MANILA – A former high-ranking police official implicated in the mishandling of a PHP6.7 billion drug seizure in 2022 has returned to the Philippines and turned himself in to the authorities, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP). Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr., who previously served as the PNP’s deputy chief for operations, was apprehended upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 4:48 a.m. on Tuesday. PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo confirmed that Santos was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and processed accordingly. He was later released at around 9:12 a.m. after securing a PHP200,000 bail. Santos is one of 29 current and former PNP officers targeted for arrest by a Manila court due to their involvement in a botched anti-drug operation. CIDG chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III revealed that Santos had previously expressed intentions to surrender and sought help with his bail. Upon his arrival, Santos was met by PNP personnel at the airport and, with his lawyer, surrendered at RTC Branch 44 in Manila, where his bail was processed, leading to his temporary release. Torre also noted that seven of the 29 wanted officers, including former Drug Enforcement Group chief Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, are still at large. Domingo, who oversaw the operation that resulted in the seizure of 990 kg of shabu and the arrest of dismissed S/Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr. in October 2022, has publicly called on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to review their case. Efforts are underway to locate Domingo and the other six fugitives, who are subject to a Hold Departure Order preventing them from leaving the country. The officers face charges under Section 92 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for mishandling drug case prosecutions, a bailable offense, and under Section 29 for planting evidence, a non-bailable offense.
Retired Police General Involved in P6.7 Billion Drug Case Surrenders
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