Buhay party-list Representative Lito Atienza believes the criminal activities of the so-called "ninja cops" is one of the reasons why death penalty should not be reinstated.
In a statement issued over the weekend, Atienza, a pro-life advocate, said that with the workings of these police scalawags, people become vulnerable to "potential drug evidence-planting and extortion."
JUST IN: Albayalde Resigns as PNP Chief amid 'Ninja Cops' Controversy
The term "ninja cops" has been used to describe policemen who "recycle" confiscated illegal drugs.
“These ‘ninja cops’ are bound to use the hazard of death sentences to threaten their victims of extortion, if and when Congress brings back capital punishment,” he said.
Under the proposed measures filed at the House, death penalty covers various crimes, including those related to drugs, plunder, kidnapping and even rape.
READ: Palace on Albayalde Resignation: Perhaps he had enough of the innuendo
According to Atienza, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 mandates that seized illegal drugs be delivered to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) forensic laboratory within 24 hours upon confiscation for qualitative and quantitative examination.
The PDEA forensic laboratory will then produce a sworn certification of examination results within 24 to 48 hours.
Within 72 hours after the filing of criminal charges in court, the judge will have to conduct an ocular inspection of the confiscated drugs.
READ: Duterte to Ninja Cops: Everybody Dies in this World But You Will Go First
The court, through the PDEA, is then expected to cause the destruction of the confiscated drugs in the presence of a representative from the media, the Department of Justice and an elected official within 24 hours after the inspection.
A sworn certification of the destroyed drugs as well as a preserved representative sample will then be submitted to the court and kept by PDEA for use as evidence.
Outgoing Philippine National Police chief Director General Albayalde himself was tagged in the "ninja cops" controversy, particularly due to his supposed role in the allegedly anomalous drug operation by the Pampanga police in November 2013.
READ: Dilawan ‘Drug Queen gave away SUVs to cops’
His subordinates allegedly let a suspected drug lord flee in exchange for P50 million while most of the 200 kilos of shabu confiscated during the operation were not declared and presumed to have been sold back to the drug market.
Albayalde has denied allegations that he was involved in any way with the operation and that he intervened in the implementation of a dismissal order on the 13 police officers involved.
The so-called "ninja cops" have all since been demoted by a rank instead of the initial recommendation that they all be dismissed.
READ: Mayor Isko Moreno Warns Alleged Manila Drug Queen, a Liberal Party Member
Albayalde will be stepping down as the country's top police officer by October 29, ten days before his originally scheduled retirement on November 8. —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News
Found this article interesting? Share it with your friends! 👍🏼
This article first appeared on GMA News.
No comments:
Post a Comment