P6.7 billion shabu mess: Probers find lapses by 49 cops

MANILA, Philippines — Forty-nine police officers were found to have committed lapses in connection with the 990 kilos of shabu valued at P6.7 billion seized in Manila last year, which could lead to the filing of criminal and administrative charges.

These were the findings of Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) 990, the body formed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to look into possible errors committed by officers and personnel who took part in the operation that led to the drug haul on Oct. 8 at a lending firm owned by dismissed anti-narcotics officer Rodolfo Mayo Jr.

The SITG’s supervisor, PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management director Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz, yesterday said they would discuss in detail the results of their investigation at a press conference scheduled for today at 1 p.m.

“We will lay down what we have started, done, finished, recommendation and what we still need to do,” Cruz told journalists.

A police memorandum dated April 13 showed that 12 are police commissioned officers, including Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, the former director of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG), who led the intelligence-driven operation in Manila’s Tondo district.

Aside from Domingo, the other officials are Colonels Rolando Portera and Julian Olonan; Lieutenant Colonels Arnulfo Ibañez, Dhefry Punzalan and Glenn Gonzales; Majors Michael Angelo Salmingo and Lieutenants Jonathan Sosongco, Jeffrey Padilla, Randolph Pinon, Silverio Bullester II and Ashrap Amerol.

The other 37 are non-commissioned officers.

Cruz has ordered acting PDEG director Brig. Gen. Faro Antonio Olaguera to recall the service firearms of Domingo and the other officers.

Meanwhile, former PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr. disputed Domingo’s claim that he approved a tactical move wherein Mayo, who was arrested in his lending firm, would be released and employed as an asset for another operation at a warehouse in Pasig City, where another large cache of illegal drugs was believed to have been stored.

In an interview with CNN Philippines last Friday night, Santos said Domingo never told him about their plan to utilize Mayo in another operation.

Citing closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) footage shown by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, Santos said Mayo was already uncuffed when he arrived at the scene.

“When I arrived, they had already released him, or they had already used him even before I arrived,” Santos said in Filipino, referring to Mayo.

“So it’s impossible that he would say that he informed me because I still wasn’t there at the scene,” he added.

At a press conference last Monday, Domingo said their decision to release Mayo had the approval of Santos and PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.

Had Domingo informed him about their plan, Santos said he would have granted it, but on the condition that it would be put into writing in a case operational plan.

Santos was among the 10 police officials whom Abalos asked to go on leave for an alleged cover-up to shield Mayo from prosecution.

Santos said he never saw Mayo when he inspected the area, adding that the police officials who were present at the scene kept him in the dark that Mayo was under their custody.

Santos denied that he was involved in a cover-up and took a swipe at Abalos for naming him in public based solely on CCTV footage, which he described as having no context or even weight.