PNP-CIDG given more time to submit evidence vs ‘ninja cops’
Published Oct 16, 2019 14:52 pm
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Updated Oct 16, 2019 14:52 pm
By Jeffrey Damicog
The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has been given more time to submit additional evidence, as well as amend the complaint it filed against 13 so-called “ninja cops” involved in the questionable 2013 illegal drugs operations in Pampanga.
Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (MANILA BULLETIN)
During a hearing held at the Department of Justice (DOJ), the special panel of prosecutors handling the re-investigation of the case on Wednesday (Oct. 16) granted the motion of the PNP-CIDG and told it to file its additional evidence and amended complaint next Monday (Oct. 21).
“We have to take into consideration the panel has been given basically a period pursuant to the department order on how many days we should receive additional evidence and resolve this case,” Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Alexander Suarez, who chairs the special panel of prosecutors, during the hearing.
“The panel rules to give complainant CIDG the period of five days or until October 21, 2019 to submit those additional evidence, if any, and to file a supplemental or amended complaint, if they intend to do so, within the same period of five days,” Suarez declared.
All 13 respondents were represented during the hearing by lawyer Donnie Ray Muli, but SPO1 Eligio Dayos Valeroso, SPO1 Alcindor Mangiduyos Tinio, and PO2 Anthony Loleng Lacsamana have decided to respectively get their own lawyers.
The panel also granted during the hearing the motions of Valeroso, Tinio, and Lacsamana to submit evidence in their defense and were told to file these on Monday (Oct. 21).
The panel began conducting the re-investigation on Wednesday (Oct. 16) pursuant to Department Order No. 528 issued by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra after the case was dismissed back in 2017 by another panel of prosecutors handling the case at that time.
Though the panel has issued subpoenas to all 13 respondents to attend the hearing, only Police Major Rodney Baloyo was not present during the hearing as he remains detained at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City after the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee conducting an investigation into the “ninja cops” controversy cited him in contempt for being uncooperative during the questioning.
The other respondents in the case were Sr. Insp. Joven Bognot De Guzman Jr., SPO1 Jules Lacap Maniago, SPO1 Donald Castro Roque, SPO1 Ronald Bayas Santos, SPO1 Rommel Munoz Vital, PO3 Dindo Singian Dizon, PO3 Gilbert Angeles De Vera, PO3 Encarnacion Guerrero Jr., and PO3 Dante M. Dizon.
In its complaint, the PNP-CIDG accused the 13 policemen of violating Republic Act 9165 (the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002), particularly Sections 27 (misappropriation), 29 (planting), and 32 (custody and disposition).
The case concerns an allegedly illegal drugs operations in Pampanga in 2013 where the 13 policemen involved in the operation allegedly kept 160 kilograms of methamphethamine hydrochloride which is locally known as shabu as well as received P50 million and new sports utility vehicles (SUVs) in exchange for the release of alleged Chinese drug trader Johnson Lee.
Instead of Lee, the respondents arrested another foreigner identified as Ding Wenkun.
Police Lt. Col. Joseph Orsos, PNP-CIDG legal division chief, admitted to reporters admitted that the evidence was weak that’s why the case got dismissed back in 2017.
“Marami pa talaga ang kulang. Pero wala kami sinisisi kung bakit nagkaganun (There are so many missing evidence. But we are not blaming anyone as to why it was so),” he said.
Because of this, Orsos stressed the need to present the testimonies of those who were involved in the case.
“Napaka-crucial nun kasi it will complete the picture kung ano talaga nangyari. So far hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin sya kumpleto (It is very crucial because it will complete the picture on what actually happened. So far, up to now it is not yet complete),” he said.
“In fact, as to the existence of bribe, existence of supposed unaccounted shabu, those evidence only exist as of now rumors or estimation lang. Wala talgaang direct evidence na meron ganitong bribe o meron talaga ganitong unaccounted shabu (There he is no direct evidence that there was bribery or there was unaccounted illegal drugs),” he lamented.
Because of this, Orsos said the PNP-CIDG intends to secure the transcripts of the Senate investigation on the “ninja cops” issue and submit it as evidence before the panel.
“Maraming revelation dun (there are so many revelations there). So we need those records,” the police official said.
“Almost complete kasi there are witnesses who retracted but when comes to the senate hearing iba na naman stand nila. Kaya importante yung nasa senate hearing (There are many witnesses who retracted their statements in the case made different testimonies during the senate hearing. So it’s very important),” he explained.
Orsos added that PNP-CIDG also intends to check with the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) to determine if the foreigners Johnson Lee and Ding Wenkun are real persons.
The police official explained this was one of the reasons why the previous panel dismissed the case back in 2017.
“Kaya I understand yung unang panel madi-dismiss talaga pagkat hindi man lang naa-establish yung identities (That’s wnhy I understand why the first panel dismissed the case because the identities of of the two were not established),” he said.
Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (MANILA BULLETIN)
During a hearing held at the Department of Justice (DOJ), the special panel of prosecutors handling the re-investigation of the case on Wednesday (Oct. 16) granted the motion of the PNP-CIDG and told it to file its additional evidence and amended complaint next Monday (Oct. 21).
“We have to take into consideration the panel has been given basically a period pursuant to the department order on how many days we should receive additional evidence and resolve this case,” Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Alexander Suarez, who chairs the special panel of prosecutors, during the hearing.
“The panel rules to give complainant CIDG the period of five days or until October 21, 2019 to submit those additional evidence, if any, and to file a supplemental or amended complaint, if they intend to do so, within the same period of five days,” Suarez declared.
All 13 respondents were represented during the hearing by lawyer Donnie Ray Muli, but SPO1 Eligio Dayos Valeroso, SPO1 Alcindor Mangiduyos Tinio, and PO2 Anthony Loleng Lacsamana have decided to respectively get their own lawyers.
The panel also granted during the hearing the motions of Valeroso, Tinio, and Lacsamana to submit evidence in their defense and were told to file these on Monday (Oct. 21).
The panel began conducting the re-investigation on Wednesday (Oct. 16) pursuant to Department Order No. 528 issued by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra after the case was dismissed back in 2017 by another panel of prosecutors handling the case at that time.
Though the panel has issued subpoenas to all 13 respondents to attend the hearing, only Police Major Rodney Baloyo was not present during the hearing as he remains detained at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City after the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee conducting an investigation into the “ninja cops” controversy cited him in contempt for being uncooperative during the questioning.
The other respondents in the case were Sr. Insp. Joven Bognot De Guzman Jr., SPO1 Jules Lacap Maniago, SPO1 Donald Castro Roque, SPO1 Ronald Bayas Santos, SPO1 Rommel Munoz Vital, PO3 Dindo Singian Dizon, PO3 Gilbert Angeles De Vera, PO3 Encarnacion Guerrero Jr., and PO3 Dante M. Dizon.
In its complaint, the PNP-CIDG accused the 13 policemen of violating Republic Act 9165 (the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002), particularly Sections 27 (misappropriation), 29 (planting), and 32 (custody and disposition).
The case concerns an allegedly illegal drugs operations in Pampanga in 2013 where the 13 policemen involved in the operation allegedly kept 160 kilograms of methamphethamine hydrochloride which is locally known as shabu as well as received P50 million and new sports utility vehicles (SUVs) in exchange for the release of alleged Chinese drug trader Johnson Lee.
Instead of Lee, the respondents arrested another foreigner identified as Ding Wenkun.
Police Lt. Col. Joseph Orsos, PNP-CIDG legal division chief, admitted to reporters admitted that the evidence was weak that’s why the case got dismissed back in 2017.
“Marami pa talaga ang kulang. Pero wala kami sinisisi kung bakit nagkaganun (There are so many missing evidence. But we are not blaming anyone as to why it was so),” he said.
Because of this, Orsos stressed the need to present the testimonies of those who were involved in the case.
“Napaka-crucial nun kasi it will complete the picture kung ano talaga nangyari. So far hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin sya kumpleto (It is very crucial because it will complete the picture on what actually happened. So far, up to now it is not yet complete),” he said.
“In fact, as to the existence of bribe, existence of supposed unaccounted shabu, those evidence only exist as of now rumors or estimation lang. Wala talgaang direct evidence na meron ganitong bribe o meron talaga ganitong unaccounted shabu (There he is no direct evidence that there was bribery or there was unaccounted illegal drugs),” he lamented.
Because of this, Orsos said the PNP-CIDG intends to secure the transcripts of the Senate investigation on the “ninja cops” issue and submit it as evidence before the panel.
“Maraming revelation dun (there are so many revelations there). So we need those records,” the police official said.
“Almost complete kasi there are witnesses who retracted but when comes to the senate hearing iba na naman stand nila. Kaya importante yung nasa senate hearing (There are many witnesses who retracted their statements in the case made different testimonies during the senate hearing. So it’s very important),” he explained.
Orsos added that PNP-CIDG also intends to check with the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) to determine if the foreigners Johnson Lee and Ding Wenkun are real persons.
The police official explained this was one of the reasons why the previous panel dismissed the case back in 2017.
“Kaya I understand yung unang panel madi-dismiss talaga pagkat hindi man lang naa-establish yung identities (That’s wnhy I understand why the first panel dismissed the case because the identities of of the two were not established),” he said.