‘Simulated’ drug bust: 30 PNP men charged
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted 30 members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), including two generals, for allegedly simulating arrests and planting evidence during an alleged drug raid in October 2022 resulting in the largest drug haul in the country.
According to the DOJ on Friday said they had already filed charges of violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (RA 9165) against the officers in the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 175.
The case stems from the supposed Oct. 8, 2022, drug raid of a company called Wealth and Personal Development Lending Inc. (WPD Lending) where 990 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) worth P6.7 billion were seized.
Inconsistencies
Police Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo, a member of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) and one of the respondents, was supposedly arrested following a “hot pursuit” at Quezon Bridge in Quiapo, Manila. The “arrest” of Mayo and a certain Ney Atadero in an alleged buy bust operation was cited in the “simulating arrests” case.
“CCTV footage presented by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the National Police Commission (Napolcom) revealed inconsistencies in the police narrative,” the DOJ said in a statement.
“The footage, also shown by former Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. during a press conference, allegedly showed Mayo in handcuffs as early as Oct. 8, contradicting claims of his arrest the following day,” the DOJ added.
Video evidence
In April 2023, following a fact-finding inquiry, Abalos made public video footage of Mayo’s arrest by several officers, showing that instead of leaving immediately, the handcuffed Mayo and other officers entered a building multiple times, transferring bags and luggage to various vehicles.
Seen arriving and entering the establishment were high-ranking officials, including Police Lt. Col. Arnulfo Ibañez; Col. Michael Angelo C. Salmingo; Col. Julian Olonan; Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, a former chief of the DEG; and Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr., former deputy chief for operations, the third-highest official in the PNP.
They were later seen in conversation before Olonan and Salmingo joined Mayo in a vehicle. Mayo’s handcuffs were removed before finally leaving the premises.
Police officers were also seen removing the handcuffs on Mayo in at least four instances before he entered the WPD Lending office on the day of the raid.
‘Staged’ arrests
Abalos said Mayo was even listed as an arresting officer in a separate drug operation on the day of the raid even though he had already been caught in a buy-bust operation earlier.
The DOJ said that Mayo was seen being brought to WPD Lending while Atadero was observed moving freely in the same location.
From the CCTV footage, the PNP discovered that at least two DEG officers—Master Sgt. Lorenzo Catarata, Senior Master Sgt. Jerrywin Rebosora—took 42 kilos before the 990 kilos of shabu were inventoried.
The stolen shabu was recovered on Oct. 15, 2022, in an abandoned car parked along Boni Serrano Avenue in San Juan City near Camp Crame.
“We can conclude from the complaints that Mayo was already arrested earlier in Bambang, Tondo, Manila, for allegedly possessing two kilograms of shabu. Atadero can also be seen from CCTV footage freely roaming the WPD Lending office. Hence, the subsequent arrests were staged,” according to the DOJ statement quoting the indictment resolution.
Indicted officers
The DOJ prosecutors noted that while charges had been filed in court against Mayo and Atadero for drug offenses previously, the new indictment was based on the alleged simulated arrests and planting of evidence.
The indicted officers were Santos, Domingo, Olonan, Ibañez, Salmingo, Police Lt. Col. Dhefry Punzalan, Lt. Jonathan Sosongco, Master Sgt. Carlos Bayeta, Patrolman Hustin Peter Gular, Patrolman Rommer Bugarin, Patrolman Hassan Kalaw, Patrolman Dennis Carolino, Cpl. Joshua Ivan Baltazar, Patrolman Nathaniel Gomez and Lt. Ashrap Amerol.
The others were Senior Master Sgt. Jerrywin Rebosora, Senior Master Sgt. Marian Mananghaya, Master Sgt. Lorenzo Catarata, Staff Sgt. Arnold Tibay, Lt. Col. Glenn Gonzalez, Lt. Randolph Piñon, Patrolman Mario Atchuela, Patrolman Windel De Ramos, Lt. Silverio Bulleser II, PCMS Emmanuele Docena, Master Sgt. Alejandro Flores, Cpl. Jhan Roland Gelacio, Patrolman James Osalvo, Patrolman Darius Camacho, and Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH
