A retired police general, implicated in the mishandling of a PHP6.7-billion drug seizure in Manila back in October 2022, has indicated his willingness to surrender and return to the Philippines, according to a statement made by Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, the head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), during a press conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City on February 7, 2025. The general, whose identity was not disclosed, is currently abroad but is in the process of formalizing his return to post bail, as his charges are bailable.
A Manila court has issued arrest warrants for 29 police officers involved in the case, charging them under Section 92 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for mishandling drug case prosecutions, which is a bailable offense. Additionally, another court in Manila has issued warrants for the same officers under Section 29 of the anti-drug law for planting evidence, a non-bailable offense.
Torre mentioned that upon the general’s arrival, he will be assisted in posting bail, emphasizing that it is the general’s right to do so. Currently, only eight of the 29 wanted officers remain at large. The CIDG is also actively searching for another police general, former Drug Enforcement Group chief Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, who recently posted a video on his Facebook account calling on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to investigate their case. In the video, Domingo alleged that corrupt police officers manipulating government officials are behind the charges against them. Torre stated that while it is up to Domingo to decide on surrendering, the law will eventually catch up with him.
Domingo was in charge of the operation in October 2022 that resulted in the seizure of 990 kg of shabu and the arrest of dismissed S/Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr., a rogue anti-narcotics officer.