“…Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts…” –Isaiah 1:23

To those who observed the recent Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on “ninja cops,” police officers said to be selling confiscated shabu and other illegal drugs, I believe that many experienced hair-raising sensations as soon as a retired Philippine National Police (PNP) general began discussing the scam.
Making disclosures against the suspected “ninja cops,” led by Lt. Colonel Rodney Raymundo Louie Baloyo of the Pampanga Police Provincial Office, former PNP General Manuel Gaerlan directly accused them of telling outright lies in their account of a raid on a Lakeshore Village home in Mexico, Pampanga.
According to Gaerlan, Baloyo’s report on the operation were mere falsities.
“As per our own validation, that operation was not a buy-bust operation,” he added.
In his testimony, Gaerlan managed to draw out the fact that Baloyo and his men fabricated documents.
The former PNP official claimed he was compelled to testify because he and the other high-ranking Police Regional Office-3 officials were not only bothered by Baoloyo’s criminal activity but that officers also resented being considered “stupid” as they were seen as either ignorant or afraid to do anything.
Gaerlan’s accusations resulted in the committee confirming and implementing its earlier ruling that found Baloyo in contempt of the Senate due to “repeated evasiveness.” He was ordered detained at the Pasay City Jail and will be confined until he decides to be truthful.
During the hearing, I half-expected Director-General Oscar Albayalde, who was present, would be implicated. I came to that realization after the report submitted by Baloyo to PNP officials regarding the said raid included the signature of Albayalde, who was the officer’s direct superior and, by signing, confirmed the provided account.
What I understood from Gaerlan’s testimony was that Albayalde’s signature also constituted a lie and was, in fact, meant to legitimize the report even if it was not truthful.
It was a pity that senators failed—or refused—to touch the explosive issue.
Hopefully, senators will take up the matter next time.

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