20 of 29 cops in mishandled P6.7 billion drug case now in police custody
DRUGS / OCTOBER 9, 2022 Police Brigadier General Narciso Domingo, then PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, former Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Benhur Abalos Jr., and Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna hold a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City, about “the biggest drug haul in the country”—990′ kilograms and 102 grams of suspected shabu amounting to P 6.7 billion in Tondo, Manila. Law enforcers arrested 9 suspects, including Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo, who is an intel officer for the PNP Drug Enforcement Group. (INQUIRER file photo / RICHARD A. REYES)
MANILA, Philippines — Twenty of the 29 police officers who were ordered arrested for their alleged involvement in the mishandled P6.7 billion drug case are now in the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Last January 15, the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) ordered the arrest of 29 policemen involved in the bungling of the prosecution of arrested personalities implicated in the P6.7 billion shabu case.
According to PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, nine officers remain at large, while half of those in custody are in various arresting units.
“Out of the 29 na may warrant, 10 are in arresting units, nine are already in the custodial center of the PNP, and one [is] in Manila City Jail,” Fajardo said during a press briefing on Monday.
On the other hand, four of the nine officers who remain at large are active police officials, three are retired, and one was dismissed from service.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: 15 cops in mishandled P6.7 billion drug case now in police custody
Article continues after this advertisementOn April 10, 2023, then-Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. revealed the police officers involved in the alleged attempt to cover up the irregularities during the seizure of P6.7 billion worth of shabu in October 2022.
The alleged cover-up was in connection with the arrest of dismissed Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr.
This operation reportedly yielded 990 kilograms of shabu.
