THE Department of Justice has approved the indictment of four so-called “ninja cops” for failure to account for two suitcases of shabu and two vehicles from an allegedly unreported buy-bust operation in Pampanga.
In a 22-page resolution, the DoJ found probable cause to file charges of violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2007 against Chief Inspector Bienvenido P. Reydado, Senior Inspector Romel N. dela Vega, Senior Police Officer 1 Rommel C. Raquipiso, Chief Inspector Arnulfo G. Ibañez and eight John Does.
The respondent policemen were tagged as “ninja cops” or police officers who are part of an anti-drugs operating group, but conduct illegal activities like reselling of the contraband.
The case arose from the complaint filed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit through Senior Superintendent Albert Ignatius D. Ferro.
The CIDU complaint alleged that Reydado, who heads Pampanga’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Team, along with the other respondents failed to account the two suitcases containing more than 50 kilograms of shabu confiscated in a buy-bust operation last Aug. 28, 2013.
Reydado’s group also failed to account a Hyundai Starex and Toyota Camry seized in the same operation.
The complaint presented two witnesses who were part of Reydado’s team who both said that they were instructed by respondent not to document the operation and not to process the arrested Chinese nationals.
The two Chinese nationals Yang Fang Ping and a certain Tony Sy Chan were eventually released, according to the witnesses who are also police officers.
When the search warrant was implemented, authorities seized several unlicensed firearms, vehicles and a case worth P2.6-million at Reydado’s safe house.
The vehicles seized inside Reydado’s safe house included one blue Mitsubishi Montero, one Yamaha motor cycle and one unit of Yamaha Mio Sporty. Ferro said the vehicles are not in Reydado’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth.
One of the witnesses against Reydado’s group, SPO1 Oliver Padilla said Reydado and his group conducts “personal” drug operations. Aside from the raid in Pampanga, he said there are also several raids conducted but Reydado’s group do not record or document the police operations.
Padilla said he and another witness SPO1 Martin Santiago are not in good terms with Reydado’s group because they were being accused of “burning” his drug operations meaning they always report to higher ups the supposed operation to be conducted by Reydado’s group. He said they fear that they will be dismissed by Reydado.
