PNP on former exec in P6.7-B drug case: Video speaks for itself
PNP spokesperson PCol Jean Fajardo—INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — The CCTV footage showing the alleged attempt to cover up the irregularities committed by cops in the P6.7-billion drug case “speaks for itself,” the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday.
The PNP also said former Drug Enforcement Group chief retired Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo and others involved in the case should respect the rule of law.
READ: 15 cops in mishandled P6.7 billion drug case now in police custody
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo’s comment came after Domingo questioned why he and Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo are facing the same charges.
Article continues after this advertisementLast January 15, the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) ordered the arrest of 29 policemen, including Domingo, Mayo, and others involved in the bungling of the prosecution of arrested personalities implicated in the P6.7-billion shabu case in October 2022.
Article continues after this advertisementOn Friday, Domingo claimed that a syndicate was behind the case against him. He also claimed that then-Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and incumbent Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla were ill-informed in bringing the cases against them.
“First of all, as a former police officer and senior officer, we expect Gen. Domingo to respect the rule of law. Before the filing of the cases, they were already allowed to answer the complaints against them,” Fajardo said in Filipino in a press conference on Monday.
“That’s their allegation. They were allowed to answer the complaint, but the video speaks for itself; we cannot alter that video footage. They said a syndicate had something to do with it, but in the first place they shouldn’t have allowed these irregularities to happen,” she added.
It was Abalos who revealed the names of police officers involved in the alleged attempt to cover up the case in April 2023.
On Sunday, Abalos dismissed Domingo’s claim that the former was misled about the facts in connection to the drug case, pointing out that these were the findings.
“For whatever it is that I presented and said, what’s important is one thing: We had it investigated by the right agencies of the government: the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Napolcom (Philippine National Police),” Abalos told 黑料社 in a phone interview.
“If he says it’s wrong but that’s the finding of the DOJ, what else can we do?” Abalos added. “They were given due process.”
