Bong Go: Duterte wants identities of "ninja cops" revealed

Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go said in an interview at the Senate on Tuesday, September 24, that President Rodrigo Duterte wants to release to the public the names of the "ninja cops" or police officials allegedly involved in selling confiscated illegal drugs.

"I think he will personally announce to the public kung sino 'yung mga sangkot na ito," Go said in an interview.

"Sabi niya, karapatan po ng mga Pilipino malaman kung sino itong mga ninja cops," the Senator added.

The issue of ninja cops surfaced as the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee continued its inquiry on the alleged corruption in the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who is also the former head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), gave the Senate a list of ninja cops on September 19, but because the list was given at an executive session, the names have not been revealed to the public yet.

Go told reporters that President Duterte asked that the list be cross-validated.

"Kino-consolidate po muna namin 'yung mga listahan, 'yung mga reports po mula sa iba't ibang ahensya ng gobyerno--PDEA, sa intelligence community--pinapa-cross validation po ni Pangulo ang lahat ng mga 'yan," the Senator said.

He also mentioned that the President has set the rewards for the arrest of the erring cops. "Nabanggit rin po niya na nandiyan na rin po 'yung reward na kaniyang sinabi noon."

Go himself was at the executive session but he said he could not reveal the names. "It was mentioned in confidence po, so I cannot (divulge) it here."

But he also said that he is in favor of letting the public know eventually. "Dapat malaman ng publiko. Tuloy-tuloy po ang ating kampanya laban sa korapsyon, laban sa kriminalidad, lalong-lalo na po ito, sa mga law enforcement agencies."

At the Senate session later on September 24, seventeen senators who were present adopted the motion with a vote of 17-0 to authorize the Blue Ribbon Committee to divulge to the public the minutes of the executive session last September 19.

Go added in the interview that the President is disappointed whenever he hears of corruption involving police officials. "Nanghihina si Pangulo 'pag naririnig niyang sangkot po ang pulis."

But Go said he remains supportive of the PNP. "Ako naman, malaki ang tiwala ko sa ating mga kapulisan. Majority ay matitino, at maayos naman po sila. Meron lang konting bad diyan. Dapat mawala at hindi po mahawa ang iba."