TEN of the 29 policemen ordered arrested by a Manila court for their involvement in the irregular 2022 anti-illegal drug raid in Manila that resulted in the seizure of P6.7 billion worth of shabu are now in police custody, the PNP said yesterday.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said nine policemen were arrested while the 10th surrendered.
“As of 10:20 a.m. today, we have already accounted for 10 of the 29 accused in the case involving 990 kilos (of shabu). Nine were arrested and one surrendered,” said Fajardo.
“Of the 10 policemen, eight are still in the active service and two optionally retired,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo said four of the 10 are patrolmen. The six others hold the ranks of lieutenant colonel, major, captain, lieutenant, executive master sergeant, and senior master sergeant.
She said four (two active and two retired) of the 10 are in the custody of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
The six others, all active policemen, are in the custody of the Pasay City police station (two), Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (one), Drug Enforcement Group (one), Batangas police (one) and Laguna police (one).
On Wednesday, the PNP created a task force to ensure the swift apprehension of the 29 policemen, including retired Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr. and Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo.
They were among the 29 policemen charged by the Department of Justice for mishandling and planting evidence in the high-profile drug case.
Aside from Santos and Domingo, also ordered arrested were Col. Julian T. Olonan, Col. Arnulfo G. Ibañez, Lt. Col. Dhefry A. Punzalan, Lt. Col. Glenn C. Gonzalez, Maj. Michael Angelo C. Salmingo, Lt. Ashrap T. Amerol, Lt. Randolph A. Piñon, Lt. Silverio P. Bulleser II;
Lt. Jonathan G. Sosongco, Chief M/Sgt. Emmanuele E. Docena, Sr. M/Sergeants Jerrywin H. Rebosora, Sr. M/Sgt. Marian E. Mananghayaan, Sr. M/Sgt. Lorenzo S. Catarata, M/Sgt. Alejandro F. Flores, M/Sgt. Carlos C. Bayeta, Staff Sgt. Arnold D. Tibay, Corp. Joshua Ivan Baltazar, Corp. Jhan Roland L. Gelacio;
Patrolmen Hustin Peter A. Gular, Rommer I. Bugarin, Hassan O. Kalaw, Dennis L. Carolino, Nathaniel Gomez, Mario M. Atchuela, Windel C. De Ramos, James G. Osalvo and Darius R. Camacho.
Twenty of them are still active while the other 10 have retired, resigned, or been dismissed from the service.
Last Wednesday, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, the PNP chief at the time, was also involved in the mess.
“The task force is continuing with its efforts to account or arrest the other policemen…so we can submit them to the jurisdiction of the court,” said Fajardo.
Earlier yesterday, Fajardo urged the police with standing arrest warrants not to go into hiding.
Fajardo said the CIDG is leading efforts to serve the arrest warrants.
She said the accused policemen should understand that they were ordered arrested as part of the judicial process.
“They should not go into hiding (and) face the charges,” said Fajardo.
“They will be given an opportunity to present evidence and it’s bailable. The court has set a P200,000 bail so we suggest that they respect the decision of the court,” said Fajardo.