The Philippine National Police announced on Thursday that they have taken into custody 10 of the 29 officers implicated in the mishandling of a PHP6.7 billion drug seizure that occurred in October 2022. According to PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, the detained officers include a range of ranks from a Police Lieutenant Colonel down to four Patrolmen, and they are currently held by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining 19 officers involved in the case. Each of the accused has been assigned a recommended bail of PHP200,000. Among those charged are high-ranking officials such as Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr., who was the former deputy chief for operations, and Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, previously the director of the Drug Enforcement Unit. The charges against them include planting evidence and delays in prosecuting the drug cases. Former Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. had earlier pointed out that senior police officials were captured on video during the operation in Tondo district, which resulted in the arrest of dismissed M/Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr. and nine others. Abalos also noted that some officers had removed 42 kg of shabu prior to the inventory of the 990 kg of seized drugs, as seen in security footage, though the stolen drugs were eventually recovered.
Philippine Police Detain 10 Officers Linked to Massive Drug Haul Mishandling
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