To prevent policemen from prioritizing the arrest of ‘ninja cops’ just for the P5 million bounty, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde clarified that only public informants would receive rewards.

“Basically the reward goes to the person that gives the information that led to the positive neutralization, arrest (of the drug suspect),” Albayalde said in a press briefing on Monday.

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“Hindi ‘yong police. Kasi totoo ‘yan, baka mamaya ‘yong pulis bigyan mo ng bigyan, magiging bounty hunter, napaka-delikado ‘yan,” he explained. “Basta nagpositive ‘yong police operation na ‘yon, civilian usually ang binibigyan dyan, it’s the asset hindi ‘yong pulis, hindi ‘yong kung sinong nag-ooperate.”

(Not the police. Because what if you keep giving it to the police? They might become bounty hunters, it’s very dangerous. When the police operation is positive, it’s the civilian that gets the bounty; the asset, not the police or just anyone who’s operating.)

Albayalde’s comments were meant to allay fears that PNP personnel would become bounty hunters because of the money that await in exchange for a capture of a policeman who is a drug user, pusher, or a protector of drug syndicates.

On Friday, President Rodrigo Duterte raised the reward for every ‘ninja cop’ caught, from P3 million to P5 million, after recent crime incidents involving policemen of different ranks.

READ: Duterte raises P5-M bounty vs each ‘ninja cop’

According to Albayalde, the President’s move might be out of frustration with his administration’s seemingly endless war on illegal drugs.

“Ang gusto siguro ng ating Presidente ay talagang pa-igtingin pa (war on drugs), double time if necessary though alam naman niya na mangilan-ngilan na lang ito,” he said.

(The President probably wants to intensify the war on drugs, double time if necessary, though he knows they’re now scarce.)

“It’s really very frustrating on his part probably […] siguro kaya siya napu-frustrate despite his efforts, ‘yung kagustuhan niya na malinis ang aming hanay eh meron pa ring ganyang nai-involve sa aming organisasyon,” he explained.

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(Maybe he’s frustrated because despite his efforts and his desire to clean the police ranks, there are still those in our organization who are involved in crime.) /je

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