MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said 10 out of 29 police officers charged over the alleged mishandling of the PHP6.7 billion drug haul in October 2022 are now in police custody.
In a message to reporters, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the officers – 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 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 PHP200,000 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. (PNA)