The Philippine National Police on Thursday said 10 out of 29 police officers charged over the alleged mishandling of the P6.7 billion drug haul in October 2022 are now in police custody.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the officers – one lieutenant colonel, one police major, one police captain, one police lieutenant, one executive master sergeant, one senior master sergeant, and four patrolmen are now in the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
She said a manhunt is underway for 19 other respondents.
Recommended bail was put at P200,000 for each of the accused.
Included in the charges are Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr., former deputy chief for operations and Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, former Drug Enforcement Unit director.
Their alleged violations include the planting of evidence and the delay and bungling in the prosecution of the drug cases.
Former Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. previously revealed that ranking police officials were seen in the video footage of the operation in Tondo district, which led to the arrest of dismissed M/Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr. and nine others.
Abalos said some police officers took 42 kg. of shabu before the inventory of the confiscated 990 kg. of illegal drugs, based on security footage. The stolen shabu was later recovered.
A court earlier ordered the arrest of 29 active and former police officers involved in the case.
The order likewise “required to use at least one body-worn camera and one alternative recording devices” in the execution of the warrant pursuant to a 2021 resolution by the Supreme Court.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil has instructed Lt. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo, chief of the Directorial Staff, to form a dedicated Task Force to ensure the swift apprehension of all implicated individuals.
In a statement, Marbil said administrative cases will be concurrently pursued to hold active personnel accountable, ensuring they face appropriate sanctions, including dismissal, and are made to answer for their actions under the full extent of the law. Vince Lopez
