Camille Naredo

The Philippine National Police headquarters in Quezon City. 

The Philippine National Police headquarters in Quezon City. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now closely coordinating with government prosecutors to explore legal remedies following the dismissal of a criminal case against 22 police officers accused of planting evidence in relation to a P6.7-billion drug haul in Manila in 2022. </p><p>Police Colonel Jonnel Aurelio, Chief of Staff of the PNP Legal Service clarified that the case was dropped due to technical issues, not because of a lack of merit.</p><p>Aurelio said their office is reviewing the court&#x27;s resolution and working with the prosecution to determine the next legal steps, including a possible appeal or refiling of the case.</p><p>&quot;Pinag-aaralan po namin &#x27;yung resolusyon ng ating hukuman at kami po ay closely coordinating with the prosecution handling this case kung ano po &#x27;yung mga appeal na pwede po namin gawin dito,&quot; Aurelio said. </p><p>&quot;There are still legal remedies para po sa mga gagawin namin hakbang, paano natin maipagpatuloy or to consider &#x27;yung decision po ng korte.&quot; </p><p>Aurelio explained that the dismissal stemmed from the prosecution&#x27;s failure to properly amend the case information as directed by the court. </p><p>The court noted that the original information was defective—specifically, it did not identify the alleged innocent person involved in the planting of evidence, nor did it clarify the motive for the act.</p><p>Although an amended information was later filed, the court rejected it, saying it still failed to meet the legal requirements.</p><p>&quot;The dismissal of the case was not based on merit ground but based on technicalities,&quot; Aurelio emphasized.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/19/over-20-cops-linked-to-p6-7-b-drug-haul-released-after-court-dismisses-case-1928">READ: Over 20 cops linked to P6.7-B drug haul released after court dismisses case</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>22 COPS RELEASED, OTHERS REMAIN AT LARGE</strong></div><p>Following the court&#x27;s ruling, the PNP released 22 officers previously held at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame on September 17 and 18. </p><p>However, Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo remains detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig due to other pending criminal charges.</p><p>Meanwhile, seven other PNP personnel who had standing arrest warrants related to the same case remain at large. </p><p>But with the court&#x27;s dismissal and the corresponding recall of arrest warrants, those individuals are no longer subject to arrest under the dismissed charges.</p><p>&quot;Since recalled or set aside na po &#x27;yung warrant of arrest, the same story din kay [PBGen. Narciso] Domingo, ay maaari na po silang lumabas. Kasi wala na &#x27;yung warrant of arrest eh. Voided na,&quot; Aurelio noted.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ADMINISTRATIVE CASES CONTINUE DESPITE CRIMINAL DISMISSAL</strong></div><p>The PNP clarified that the dismissal of the criminal case does not affect the administrative cases already filed against the officers by the Internal Affairs Service (IAS).</p><p>&quot;Iba kasi &#x27;yung quantum of evidence ng criminal case, iba rin sa admin case. Ang criminal case kasi, guilty beyond unreasonable doubt. Dito naman sa admin case, it&#x27;s just a substantial evidence,&quot; Aurelio explained. </p><p>&quot;And so, they can proceed independently po. Pwede dismissed sa criminal, pero pwede pong guilty sila sa administrative case.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RETURN TO SERVICE NOT GUARANTEED </strong></div><p>With the criminal case dismissed, questions have arisen about whether the accused officers may now return to duty. </p><p>Aurelio said this will depend on the outcomes of administrative proceedings and the decisions of relevant quasi-judicial bodies.</p><p>&quot;Lahat naman ng mga akusado ay ginagamit nila lahat ng remedyo. Pero as to the weight of evidence, kung ito ay pwede, ay depende na po siguro sa ating mga IAS at sa mga quasi-judicial values po natin,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now closely coordinating with government prosecutors to explore legal remedies following the dismissal of a criminal case against 22 police officers accused of planting evidence.</p>

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now closely coordinating with government prosecutors to explore legal remedies following the dismissal of a criminal case against 22 police officers accused of planting evidence.

PNP to appeal dismissal of case vs. 22 cops over technical flaw

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PNP to appeal dismissal of case vs. 22 cops over technical flaw

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 22, 2025 03:28 PM PHT

|

Updated September 22, 2025 03:37 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine National Police

PNP

drug haul

990 kilogram

shabu

operation

Manila

Rodolfo Mayo

Narciso Domingo

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