By Hannah Torregoza
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Wednesday said policemen linked to the business of recycling illegal drugs confiscated in legitimate operations should be killed.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (Senator Bong Go's Official Facebook Page / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Patayin yan (Kill them),” Go said this when asked by reporters what should be done to policemen who would be found guilty of being a so-called “ninja cop.”
The Senate on Tuesday night voted 17-0 to authorize the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights to disclose the contents of its executive session last Sept. 19 on the policemen who are allegedly engaged in the “agaw-bato” scheme.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who made the motion, said it was imperative that the public was informed of what transpired during the Senate’s executive session when former Philippine National Police (PNP)-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Benjamin Magalong disclosed the names of cops involved in recycling illegal drugs.
But Senator Richard Gordon, who chairs the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, and Blue Ribbon Committee, said he will submit the names to the President today, and will, instead, let the President decide on whether or not he would disclose the names of the police officers, which includes high-ranking officials.
Gordon said that while he was not passing judgment on the policemen involved, it was important “that the President is aware of the charges.”
“If we are to clean up our system, not only in the BuCor (Bureau of Corrections), but most definitely among higher PNP officials’ handling of drugs, we need to overhaul both systems ASAP,” Gordon said.
Go echoed Gordon’s statement, saying he, too, was also in favor of publicizing the names of these cops.
Go also said it was now up to the President whether he will heed the PNP’s call for the Senate to protect the rights of the said “ninja cops.”
The PNP made the request even though the institution said it “bows” to the Senate’s decision to divulge the names of its members reportedly embroiled in the recycling of illegal drugs.
“Na kay Presidente nay un. Sa Executive, siya naman ang Pangulo. Under naman sa kanya ang PNP (It’s up to the President. He is the head of the executive department. The PNP is under his office),” Go pointed out.
Go reiterated that the Senate was giving the President the leeway to publicize the information obtained by the Senate during its investigation into the anomalies inside the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
“Iyon ang napagbotohan kahapon, ipauubaya… Ibig sabihin na kay Presidente nap o kung sasabihin niya sa publiko or hindi (That was what was agreed yesterday (Tuesday afternoon). It means it is up to the President whether to reveal it or not),” he pointed out.
read more: Senators asked to exercise diligence in revealing names of ‘ninja’ cops, alleged protectors, Senate set to reveal names of ‘ninja’ cops named by ex-CIDG chief