Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Thursday that 10 out of the 29 police officers charged with alleged mishandling of a PHP6.7 billion drug haul in October 2022 are now in custody. The officers, comprising one Police Lieutenant Colonel, one Police Major, one Police Captain, one Police Lieutenant, one Police Executive Master Sergeant, one Police Senior Master Sergeant, and four Patrolmen, are under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
According to Philippines News Agency, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo confirmed that a manhunt is underway for the remaining 19 respondents. The charges against the officers include the planting of evidence and delaying and bungling the prosecution of drug cases. The recommended bail for each accused has been set at PHP200,000.
The case also involves Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr., former deputy chief for operations, and Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, former Drug Enforcement Unit director. Former Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. revealed that ranking police officials were identified in video footage during the operation in Tondo district, which resulted in the arrest of dismissed M/Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr. and nine others.
Abalos disclosed that some officers took 42 kg of shabu before the official inventory of the confiscated 990 kg of illegal drugs, as evidenced by security footage. The stolen shabu was later recovered.
