THE National Prosecution Service (NPS) has filed charges against 30 police officers in connection with alleged irregularities in a 2022 anti-illegal drug operation, which resulted in the arrest of a police officer and the seizure of over P6.7 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu.
In a resolution dated December 10, 2024, the panel of prosecutors approved the filing of cases for planting evidence, and delay and bungling in the prosecution of drug cases against the following Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel:
1. Police Lieutenant General Benjamin D. Santos Jr.
2. Police Brigadier General Narciso D. Domingo
3. Police Colonel (Pcol.) Julian T. Olonan
4. Police Lieutenant Colonel Dhefry A. Punzalan
5. Police Lieutenant (Plt.) Jonathan G. Sosongco
6. Police Master Sergeant (Pmsg.) Carlos C. Bayeta
7. Patrolman (Pat) Hustin Peter A. Gular
8. Pat. Rommer I. Bugarin
9. Pat. Hassan O. Kalaw
10. Pat. Dennis L. Carolino
11. Police Corporal Joshua Ivan Baltazar
12. Pat. Nathaniel Gomez
13. Plt. Ashrap T. Amerol
14. Police Senior Master Sergeant (Psms) Jerrywin H. Rebosora
15. Psms. Marian E. Mananghaya
16. Pmsg. Lorenzo S. Catarata
17. Pssg. Arnold D. Tibay
18. Pcol. Arnulfo G. Ibañez
19. Pltcol. Glenn C. Gonzalez
20. Police Major Michael Angelo C. Salmingo
21. Plt. Randolph A. Piñon
22. Pat. Mario M. Atchuela
23. Pat. Windel C. De Ramos
24. Plt. Silverio P. Bulleser II
25. Police Chief Master Sergeant Emmanuele E. Docena
26. Pmsg. Alejandro F. Flores
27. Pcpl. Jhan Roland L. Gelacio
28. Pat. James G. Osalvo
29. Pat. Darius R. Camacho
30. Pmsg. Rodolfo B. Mayo
The charges were filed before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 175.
The cases stemmed from irregularities during the October 8, 2022, drug operation conducted in Tondo, Manila, against Mayo, who yielded two kilograms of shabu.
'Participation'
Based on the investigation of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which was submitted to the NPC, Mayo’s arrest was erroneously reported.
Instead of reporting Mayo’s arrest, he was placed in custody but was subsequently brought to his lending office in the same city for an alleged follow-up operation, during which anti-illegal drug operatives recovered nearly a ton of shabu worth more than P6.7 billion.
Santos, then the deputy chief for operations, and Domingo, then the director of the Police Drug Enforcement Group, who are both retired, were seen in security camera footage visiting the lending operation while it was being searched.
“[Santos and Domingo] in their respective capacities as superior officers of the PNP, they ordered, allowed, and directed that Mayo be released after he was initially arrested. As high-ranking officers, they likewise did not take any immediate corrective action against the police officers who directly took part in the bungled operation against Mayo and (Ney) Atadero, despite knowledge and having opportunity to make such remedial measures,” the resolution read.
“As shown in the footage and as corroborated by their respective admissions and testimonies of other respondents and witnesses, they had actual participation, directed, allowed, and consented to the patently unlawful police procedures during the incident at WPD Lending,” it added.
The operation was declared but only implicating Mayo’s staff, Ney Atadero.
On the evening of the said day, Mayo took part in an operation for the service of a search warrant in Pasig City.
It was reflected in a report that Mayo was arrested at dawn on October 9 in Quiapo, Manila.
Involved police officers earlier said that the reporting of Mayo’s arrest was delayed for the conduct of a follow-up operation in order to get other “big fish” in the illegal drugs trade.
It was later found that 42 kilos of shabu were stolen from the stash recovered from Mayo’s office. It was returned afterward.
These controversies surrounding the arrest of Mayo prompted former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. to call for the courtesy resignation of all full-fledged police colonels and generals after it was found that some of them were involved in the illegal drug trade.
Strong evidence
NPC Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon expressed confidence that they have strong evidence against the accused to warrant their conviction.
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla tagged the incident as a “grand conspiracy to conceal a criminal enterprise” involving the selling, arrest, storage, intent to distribute and cover-up.
He said he has ordered an in-depth probe into the police's involvement in such criminal acts, particularly the manipulation of seized evidence.
“Our theory is that this goes all the way to 2016, naging institutional practice na siya mula 2016 hanggang nahuli nung 2022. It seems that it became a standard procedure ng mga ilang elements ng PNP na magkaroon ng drug haul -- i-report ng kaunti, ibo-bodega ang marami…it seems to be that way,” Remulla said.
(Our theory is that this goes all the way back to 2016, it became an institutional practice from 2016 until it was uncovered in 2022. It seems that it became a standard procedure for some elements of the PNP to have a drug haul -- report a small amount, stash the rest... it seems to be that way.)
“It is our theory but not proven na dahil sa reward system instituted by the PNP when 2016 started. Ang drug haul ay hindi nire-report dahil may reward. Kukuha sila ng tingi, ilalagay doon, may reward, may accomplishment. So doon, nagkaroon non, bodega... kuha... arrest... reward... promotion... parang ganoon ang naging sistema nila,” he added.
(It is our theory, but it has not been proven, that this is due to the reward system instituted by the PNP when 2016 started. The drug haul was not reported because there was a reward. They would take small amounts, stash them, and get a reward for it, claiming an accomplishment. So from there, it became a system of storage... take... arrest... reward... promotion... that's how their system seemed to work.)
Not in the clear
Remulla said filing the charges does not make former PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. off the hook.
“Hindi siya kasama kasi ‘yung hearing retired na siya (he is not included because the hearing is retired), which does not make him impervious,” he added.
In a press conference, PNP Spokesperson Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said of the 30 accused police personnel, two retired, one resigned from the service, three took the optional retirement, two were dismissed from the service while 22 others were still on active duty status.
Fajardo said PNP Chief General Rommel Marbil has already ordered that the 22 active cops be placed under restrictive custody and disarmed pending the possible issuance of an arrest warrant against them.(TPM/SunStar Philipines)