Jamaine Punzalan

Philippine National Police logo, Oct. 19, 2017. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173675484134320171019-PNP-HPG-logo--5-JC.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Philippine National Police logo, Oct. 19, 2017. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File"/>Philippine National Police logo, Oct. 19, 2017. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA — The Department of Justice on Monday announced the filing of charges against 30 policemen, including two generals, for taking part in an alleged “grand conspiracy to cover up a criminal enterprise” within the Philippine National Police (PNP).The respondents included a former PNP Deputy Chief for Operations and a former chief of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG).The policemen were accused of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act for planting evidence and mishandling a high-profile drug case involving PMSgt. Rodolfo Mayo related to the recovery of 990 kilograms of shabu worth P6.7 billion in Tondo, Manila back in October 2022.  Police earlier claimed that Mayo was apprehended in a hot pursuit operation on October 9, 2022 at the Quiapo bridge in Manila, where he was found in possession of two kilograms of shabu, while a certain Ney Atadero was supposedly arrested in a separate buy-bust operation in Tondo a day earlier. Both of the arrests supposedly resulted in the seizure of what was then considered as the largest drug haul in the country.However, CCTV footage presented by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the National Police Commission revealed glaring inconsistencies in the police narrative, as Mayo was actually arrested in a buy bust operation in Bambang on October 8.According to investigators, the “staged” arrest on October 9 was an attempt by police to address irregularities that happened in Mayo’s arrest a day earlier.According to Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Ricardo Bernabe III, their probe revealed that arresting officers failed to report and document the buy bust operation where Mayo was arrested.They also allegedly excluded his involvement in the seizure of the 990 kilograms of drugs at the Wealth and Personal Development (WPD) Lending office in Tondo, which Mayo owned. Officials also allowed Mayo to be eventually released later in the day so he could participate in another illegal drug operation in Pasig City.CCTV footage also showed that contrary to the claim of police, there was no buy bust operation conducted at the WPD Lending office in Tondo at 4:45 p.m. on October 8 that led to the arrest of Ney Atadero, the caretaker of the office.Meanwhile, various CCTV footage also showed a number of policemen hauling away luggages containing several kilos of shabu from the WPD lending office.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/04/28/23/cops-accused-of-covering-up-real-story-behind-phs-biggest-drug-haul">Policemen accused of &#x27;covering up&#x27; real story behind PH&#x27;s &#x27;biggest drug haul&#x27;</a></div>The drugs taken by police before they were inventoried were apparently “intended as a reward for their confidential informant,” and were eventually “recovered” near Camp Crame days later, the Napolcom said.“Apparently, [this is] an illegal act and a blatant violation of the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002 among other laws,” Napolcom’s Bernabe said in a Palace briefing.The footage also showed high-ranking officials of the PNP arriving at the WPD Lending office following the discovery of the illegal drugs, including PBGen. Narciso Domingo and PLtGen. Benjamin Santos.The Napolcom En Banc earlier resolved to dismiss 21 respondent-policemen from service. Meanwhile, 16 respondents were demoted in rank, 4 respondents were suspended for six months and 12 respondents’ cases were dismissed.“With respect to the three respondents who are presidential appointees, our recommendation for dismissal from the service shall be subject to the confirmation by the Office of the President,” Bernade said.“Relative to the administrative case against LtGen. Santos, the summary dismissal proceedings against him was suspended on the count of a writ of preliminary injunction issued by Judge Alice Gutierrez Branch 193 of Marikina City Regional Trial Court.”Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said his agency would go &quot;all-out&quot;  in prosecuting the 30 police officers.In a statement, Remulla reminded police officers about their crucial role in upholding the rule of law.&quot;The alliance between prosecutors and policemen serve as one of the major foundations of our justice system since both are heavily dependent on each other in ensuring their respective mandates are achieved. Hence, we must not let a few misguided cops remain in service so as not to negatively influence the majority of our police force who are faithful to their sworn mandates,&quot; Remulla said.Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon meanwhile expressed confidence that they could secure the conviction of the policemen.“We believe that the evidence is strong enough to warrant a conviction. Because we have this new policy in the department now, we only make sure that the cases that were elevated in court are cases which will be able to withstand rigorous trials and end  up in eventual conviction,” he said. “So, as far as the Department of Justice is concerned, with the two cases that were recently filed, we are confident that we will be able to master a conviction for all those charged.” <div>LINKS TO REWARD SYSTEM? </div>Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said that the case was “proof of a grand conspiracy to conceal a criminal enterprise within the PNP,” which could have been brought about by the “reward system” implemented by the previous administration under the controversial war on drugs.“It is our theory that this goes all the way to 2016, naging institutional practice na siya mula 2016 hanggang nahuli ito ng 2022. It seems that it became a standard procedure ng mga silang elements ng PNP na magkaroon ng mga drug haul, i-report nang kaunti, ibubodega ang marami,” Remulla said.“It seems to be that we and what we have done now, for the time is to show conclusively, that a criminal enterprise involving the selling, the arrest, the storage that intent to distribute and intent to cover up all in one day nangyari. So, it shows, that’s why, I said, a grand conspiracy of a criminal enterprise.”<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/13/duterte-confirms-drug-war-reward-scheme-minsan-bigyan-ko-pa-ng-dagdag-1430">Duterte confirms drug war reward scheme: &#x27;Minsan bigyan ko pa ng dagdag&#x27;</a> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/19/duterte-denies-cash-reward-system-in-war-on-drugs-1641">Duterte denies cash reward system in war on drugs</a></div>Remulla said a PNP-wide probe “will go back to 2016 all the way down to 2022.”“It is our theory, but not proven na dahil sa reward system na ginawa ng instituted by the PNP in 2016 started, ang drug haul ay hindi nire-report at tuwing may—dahil may reward, kukuha sila ng tingi, ilalagay doon, may reward, may accomplishment. So, doon nagkaroon ng bodega, kuha, arrest, reward, promotion. Parang ganoon ang naging sistema nila.”<div>— With a report from Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News</div>

The Department of Justice on Monday announced the filing of charges against 30 policemen, including two generals, for taking part in an alleged “grand conspiracy to cover up a criminal enterprise” within the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The Department of Justice on Monday announced the filing of charges against 30 policemen, including two generals, for taking part in an alleged “grand conspiracy to cover up a criminal enterprise” within the Philippine National Police (PNP).

DOJ files charges vs 2 PNP generals, 28 others for ‘staged’ drug bust

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DOJ files charges vs 2 PNP generals, 28 others for ‘staged’ drug bust

Pia Gutierrez,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 13, 2025 04:15 PM PHT

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