THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday said it will investigate drug-related operations from 2016, citing a “grand conspiracy” to conceal criminal activities within the Philippine National Police (PNP).
DILG Secretary Jon Victor Remulla said this as the Department of Justice (DoJ) announced the filing of charges against 30 police officers including two generals over a fabricated drug haul in 2022.
“There appears to be a grand conspiracy to conceal a criminal enterprise within the PNP,” he said at a Palace briefing.
“We will go back to 2016 all the way down to 2022,” he said, noting that when a reward system was instituted in the PNP in 2016, drug hauls were not being reported.
“And because there was a reward, they would take small amounts and put them there,” he said in mixed Filipino and English. “With the reward, they would have an accomplishment.”
The PNP enforced a reward system under former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, retired police colonel Royina Garma revealed in a House quad committee hearing in October last year, with the former Philippine leader allegedly offering cash rewards for every drug suspect killed in his war on drugs.
The DoJ said in a statement on Monday that the 30 erring cops planted evidence and mishandled a high-profile drug case involving the seizure of over 900 kilograms of methamphetamine (shabu) worth P6.7 billion in Tondo, Manila.
The officers failed to conduct lawful arrests of a police officer allegedly involved in the drug trade and another individual accused of drug trafficking, the agency said, citing a resolution by its prosecutors.
“The charges were filed under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (RA 9165) against several high-ranking officials, including Lieutenant General Benjamin Santos, Jr., Brigadier General Narciso Domingo, and 28 other officers,” it said.
It said the case was already filed before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 175.
The case centers on the arrests in October 2022 of Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo, Jr. and Ney Saligumba Atadero.
Police claimed Mr. Mayo was apprehended in a hot pursuit operation on Oct. 9, 2022, while Mr. Atadero was allegedly arrested in a buy-bust operation on Oct. 8, 2022. Both incidents reportedly led to the confiscation of billions worth of shabu.
But the arrests were simulated, the DoJ said, citing CCTV footage presented by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the National Police Commission (Napolcom) which “reveal inconsistencies in the police narrative.”
“The footage, also shown by former Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur”Abalos, Jr. during a press conference, allegedly showed Mr. Mayo in handcuffs as early as Oct. 8, contradicting claims of his arrest the following day,” it said.
The DoJ said Mr. Mayo was seen being brought to WPD Lending — a site linked to the drug bust — while Mr. Atadero was observed moving freely in the same location.
“We can conclude from the complaints that Mayo was already arrested earlier in Bambang, Tondo, Manila, for allegedly possessing two kilograms of shabu. Atadero can also be seen from CCTV footage freely roaming the WPD Lending office. Hence, the subsequent arrests were staged,” the DoJ resolution read.
It added that Mr. Atadero was merely awaiting the arrival of senior officers to inspect the staged arrests.
“Prosecutors noted that while charges had been filed in court against Mr. Mayo and Mr.Atadero for drug offenses, the indictment was based on simulated arrests and planted evidence,” DoJ said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
