30 cops in ‘staged’ drug bust face conviction

The Department of Justice (DoJ) expressed confidence on Monday it could secure the conviction of 30 former and current police officers charged in connection with a “staged” anti-illegal drug operation in Manila in 2022 during which P6.7 billion worth of shabu was seized.

Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon, speaking at a press briefing in Malacañang, stated, “As far as the Department of Justice is concerned with the two cases that we recently filed we are confident we will be able to muster a conviction of all those charged.”

He said the DoJ is committed to ensuring that all cases brought to court have sufficient evidence to withstand trial and lead to conviction.

The DoJ filed charges before the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) against the officers for violation of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The charges include the planting of evidence under Section 29 and mishandling of drug cases under Section 92.

Those charged included high-ranking officers P/Lt.Gen. Benjamin D. Santos Jr., P/BGen. Narciso D. Domingo, and P/Col. Julian T. Olonan, and several others, including former P/MSgt. Rodolfo B. Mayo, who was arrested following a hot pursuit in October 2022.

The charges stemmed from a buy-bust operation on 8 October 2022 at the offices of WPD Lending in Tondo, Manila.

During the operation, 990 kilos of methamphetamine worth approximately P6.7 billion were seized and one Nely Saligumba Atadero was arrested.

The following day, Mayo was apprehended near Quezon Bridge in Quiapo, Manila. However, investigators later determined the operation against Mayo was staged.

Fadullon expressed confidence the evidence against the accused officers is strong enough to secure their conviction, pointing to a new DoJ policy aimed at ensuring that only cases with strong evidence are pursued. He also confirmed the DoJ was awaiting arrest warrants from the court to be forwarded to the Philippine National Police for execution.

“The DoJ is working closely with the PNP and we are awaiting the court’s action on the arrest warrants,” Fadullon said.

He added that the DoJ remained open to amending the charges or filing additional ones if necessary.

“If we are convinced there is a need to include other personalities, we will do so,” he said.

Questions about the operation came up following a review of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and other evidence, which led prosecutors to determine that the anti-drug operation had been staged. This prompted the DoJ to reconsider the original charges filed in 2022 against Mayo and Atadero.

The DoJ considered withdrawing the initial charges as it appeared the cases may have been based on false allegations and flawed evidence.

“After reviewing the evidence presented, we are seriously considering the possibility of withdrawing the cases because it would appear they were based on false allegations and fallacious evidence,” Fadullon said.