The Department of Justice has formally filed before the Office of the Ombudsman its endorsement seeking the indictment of retired Philippine National Police chief General Oscar Albayalde over his alleged involvement with the so-called “ninja cops” implicated in the questionable anti-illegal drug operations in Pampanga in 2013.
The Office of the Prosecutor General confirmed that the indorsement was filed last Jan.29, 2020 after the DOJ’s panel of prosecutors issued a resolution which found probable cause to indict Albayalde before the Sandiganbayan for violating Section 3(a) and Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Aside from Albayalde, the DOJ panel also recommended to the Ombudsman that 12 so-called “ninja cops” be also charged along with Albayalde for violating Section 39(e) of RA 3019.
The 12 policemen are P/Maj. Rodney Baloyo IV, P/Insp. Joven Bagnot De Guzman, Jr., SPO1 (Senior Police Officer) Jules Lacap Maniago, SPO1 Donald Castro Roque, SPO1 Ronald Bayas Santos, SPO1 Rommel Muñoz Vital, SPO1 Alcindor Mangiduyos Tinio, PO3 (Police Officer) Dindo Singian Dizon, PO3 Gilbert Angeles De Vera, PO3 Romeo Encarnacion Guerrero, Jr., SPO1 Eligio Dayos Valeroso, and SPO1 Dante Mercado Dizon.
“It’s up to the Ombudsman, upon reading the resolution, to adopt the DOJ findings or conduct another preliminary investigation if it is not satisfied,” said Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Alexander Saurez, who chaired the panel which conducted the preliminary investigation on the complaint filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group against Albayalde and 12 “ninja cops.”
The case stemmed from the 2013 illegal drugs operation in Mexico, Pampanga where a team led by then Police Maj. Rodney Baloyo IV were supposed to have arrested suspected foreign drug trader Johnson Lee.
The DOJ panel said there is sufficient evidence to hold Albayalde liable for his “non-implementation of an order which sought to penalize the police officers involved in the questioned drug operations.”
Criminal charges have already been filed against the 12 “Ninja cops” before the courts of San Fernando, Pampanga also concerning the anomalous 2013 drug operation.
