Manila court issues hold departure order vs 30 cops in 2022 P6.7 billion drug haul

MANILA, Philippines — A Manila court has issued a hold departure order against 30 policemen who were involved in the alleged mishandling of a P6.7-billion drug haul in Tondo, Manila in 2022.

In an order dated January 16, the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 44 directed the Bureau of Immigration to 'hold and prevent the departure' of the 30 policemen at any Philippine airport, seaport, or port.

A hold departure order is a court-issued directive that prohibits an individual from leaving the country.

The following are the policemen who were issued a hold departure order:

• Police Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos, Jr.
• Police Brigadier General Narciso Domingo
• Police Colonel Julian Olonan
• Police Lt. Colonel Dhefrey Punzalan
• PLT Jonathan Sosongco
• PMSG Carlos Bayeta
• PAT Hustin Gular
• PAT Romar Bugarin
• PAT Hassan Kalaw
• PAT Dennis Carolino,
• PCPL Joshua Baltazar
• PAT Nathaniel Gomez
• PLT Ashrap Αmerol
• PSMS Jerrywin Rebosora
• PSMS Marian Manangha
• PMSG Lorenzo Catarata
• PSSG Arnold Tibay,
• Police Colonel Arnulfo Ibañez,
• Police Lt. Colonel Glenn Gonzalez
• Police Major Michael Angelo Salmingo
• PLT Randolph Piñon
• PAT Mario Atchuela,
• PAT Windel De Ramos
• PLT Silverio Bulleser II
• PCMS Emmanuel Docena
• PMSG Alejandro Flores
• PCPL Jhan Roland Gelacio 
• PAT Darius Camacho,
• PAT James Osalvo
• PMSG Rodolfo Mayo

However, Philippine National Police spokesperson Brigadier General Jean Fajardo revealed that one of the high-ranking officers involved in the drug haul left the Philippines on January 8.

The case stems from a 2022 drug bust in Manila, where 990 kilograms of shabu, valued at over P6.7 billion, were seized from a warehouse owned by Mayo.

The National Police Commission initially filed drug and corruption charges against 50 policemen. However, prosecutors later pressed charges against only 30 active and former officers, including two high-ranking generals