A retired police general who left the country and was charged in connection with the mishandling of a P6.7-billion drug haul in October 2022 has expressed his intention to surrender, a police official said Friday.
“There are already surrender feelers regarding that matter,” Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said.
“The general is just formalizing his return and posting of bail since his case is bailable,” he added, but refused to identify the general.
To recall, a Manila court has ordered the arrest of 29 police officers for violating Section 92 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which pertains to the bungling of drug cases, a bailable offense.
A separate warrant was issued by another Manila court for the officers’ arrest for violating Section 29 of the anti-drug law, which is planting of evidence, a non-bailable offense.
Torre said the general will be met upon his arrival and assisted in posting bail.
“That is his right,” said Torre, adding that only eight of the 29 wanted police officers remain at large.
He also said that CIDG personnel are working to locate another police general, former Drug Enforcement Group chief Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, who posted a 16-minute video on his Facebook account 31 January urging President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to look into their case.
In the video, Domingo claimed that corrupt police officers manipulating government officials are behind the case against them.
Torre said it is up to Domingo if he wants to surrender, but “eventually the long arm of the law will catch up on him.”
Domingo supervised the October 2022 operation that led to the confiscation of 990 kg of shabu and the arrest of a rogue anti-narcotics officer, dismissed Staff Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr.