Ex-PNP general in shabu mess cries ‘miscarriage of justice’

MANILA, Philippines — A police general wanted for alleged irregularities in the seizure of P6.7 billion worth of shabu in Tondo, Manila in 2022 broke his silence, warning that police officers who are actually involved in the anomalous operation are working to regain their freedom with the assistance of ranking government officials.

Clad in a t-shirt and sporting sunglasses and a bull cap, retired Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo posted a 16-minute video on his Facebook account from an undisclosed location on Friday, wherein he lambasted current and former government officials for the injustice he is suffering.

Domingo urged President Marcos to look into their case, stressing police scalawags are manipulating government officials in their favor.

“I am praying that you will bring back common sense and order over this brouhaha, over this miscarriage of justice,” he said.

Domingo was head of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) when he supervised an intelligence-driven operation that led to the confiscation of 990 kilos of shabu in October 2022, which also saw the arrest of a rogue anti-narcotics officer, dismissed S/Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr.

Domingo was among the 30 active and retired police officers who were ordered arrested by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 175, including retired Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos, the former PNP deputy chief for operations. The two police generals and seven other officers remain at large.

Domingo was particularly critical of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, whom he blamed for his current predicament.

According to Domingo, Remulla and National Police Commission (Napolcom) vice chairman Ricardo Bernabe III accepted hook, line and sinker the testimonies of Mayo and his bosses, who he said are the ones involved in illegal activities.

Domingo was referring to Col. Arnulfo Ibañez, Lt. Col. Glenn Gonzales and Maj. Michael Angelo Salmingo, who are his co-respondents in the case.

Whereas former Interior secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. “changed” the story of the operation by accusing them of a grand attempt to cover-up Mayo’s involvement, it reportedly worsened when Remulla assumed leadership of the department.

“It intensified this time. Sec. Jonvic’s claim is grand conspiracy within the PNP for criminal enterprise. They both have the word ‘grand’ but for me, that’s just grandstanding,” he said.

Domingo is worried the cases against the officers he mentioned who are actually involved in illegal drug activities might get dismissed and they would be set free due to Remulla’s actions.

“You will forever carry that weight. Your complaints are just based on the statement of Mayo’s bosses. Of course, those syndicates want to get Mayo off the hook,” Domingo told Remulla.

He also criticized Remulla for hinting that former PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. might also be implicated in the case, stressing it was the former leader of the police force who repeatedly told them not to circumvent standard operating procedures in arresting suspected criminals.