Slain fiscal’s link to ‘ninja cops’ eyed

MANILA, Philippines - Police are looking into the possibility that slain Quezon City assistant prosecutor Noel Mingoa, who is a former associate of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, transacted with “ninja cops.”

These ninja cops are members of anti-narcotics groups involved in reselling shabu seized in police operations.

Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director, said they were verifying information that Mingoa was linked to a drug ring after he was tagged in the alleged fixing of drug cases.

Bail bond officer Ofelia Balicoco, 42, who was arrested last week for allegedly fixing or lowering drug charges against arrested suspects, identified Mingoa as her “contact” at city hall.

Balicoco claimed that Mingoa had lowered charges for a fee not only for drug-related cases but also for non-bailable offenses such as rape, robbery and murder.

Balicoco also claimed that it was Mingoa who set the amount paid by the relatives of arrested drug suspects.

Balicoco was nabbed along with Police Officer 3 Eliezer Dalisay of the Talipapa police station, who allegedly served as her police contact.

QCPD Station 3 commander Superintendent Danilo Mendoza has ordered the relief of Dalisay.

At least three complainants pinned down Balicoco after they allegedly paid to the suspect P185,000 in exchange for the lowering of drug charges against their detained relatives.

Mingoa was gunned down in front of a restaurant along Commonwealth Avenue in Barangay Old Balara on Jan. 10.