10 cops in ‘staged’ drug hauling ops surrender — PNP

The Philippine National Police has accounted for 10 of the 29 active and former policemen, who were ordered arrest by the Manila court, over their alleged involvement in the “staged” 990 kilos of shabu worth P6.7 billion hauled in 2022.

In her message to reporters on Thursday, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said eight out of the 10 cops were still on active duty while the other two were optionally retired.

“Nine were arrested while the other one has surrendered,” Fajardo told reporters.

Four of the 10 cops are now in the custody of the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the one who surrendered is under the custody of the PNP-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG), two are currently under the Pasay City police station while the remaining three are under the custody of PNP-Drug Enforcement Group, Batangas Police Provincial Office and Alaminos Municipal Police Station, respectively.

Fajardo identified the 10 officers as four with the rank of Patrolman, one Police Master Sergeant, one Police Executive Master Sergeant, one Police Lieutenant, one Police Captain, one Police Major, and one Police Lieutenant Colonel.

Fajardo added the PNP are still accounting for 12 other policemen in active duty status. Each of the accused has recommended bail amounting to P200,000.

“The efforts of the task force created to account for and arrest these police officers — both active and optionally retired and dismissed — will continue to ensure that we can submit them to the jurisdiction of the court,” Fajardo said.

The PNP earlier confirmed some 30 police officers are facing charges after being implicated in the planting of evidence, delaying and blundering the prosecution of drug cases since 2016.

This stemmed from the discovered irregularities in the drug operations conducted against dismissed policeman Rodolfo Mayo, in Tondo, Manila last 22 October 2022.