New arrest order re P6.7B drug haul out

A new arrest warrant was issued against police officers implicated in an October 2022 operation involving 990 kilograms of illegal drugs in Manila.

The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 175 ordered the issuance of the warrant for violations of Section 29 of Republic Act (RA) 9165, or the “Planting of Evidence” provision, which carries no bail.

Previously, the Manila RTC Branch 44 issued a separate warrant for violations of Section 92 of RA 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, against 29 police officers.

Bail was set at P200,000 each for their temporary release. However, Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos, initially included in the first warrant, was cleared in the new warrant.

In addition, the court ordered the transfer of Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr., alleged owner of WPD Lending Incorporated — where the P6.7 billion worth of illegal drugs was seized — from the Manila City Jail to the Metro Manila District Jail in Bicutan.

Mayo’s arraignment for the case is scheduled for 27 January.