HDO issued vs 30 cops in drug mess

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A MANILA court has issued a hold departure order (HDO) against 30 policemen, including a lieutenant general, accused of conducting a “staged” drug sting in Tondo, Manila in 2022 that led to the seizure of around 990 kilos of shabu worth P6.7 billion.

Branch 44 of the Manila Regional Trial Court issued the HDO dated January 16 due to the probability the accused would leave the Philippines “to evade arrest and prosecution of the offenses charged against them, in view of the gravity and the nature of the cases as well as their financial capacity to facilitate their departure.”

“Now, therefore, the Court hereby orders the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration to hold and prevent the departure of the accused hereunder named at any Philippine airport, seaport or any port, and to include their names in the Hold Departure List,” the court order said.

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Named in the HDO list are Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr., Gen Narciso Domingo, Col. Julian Olonan, Lt. Col. Dhefry Punzalan, Lt. Jonathan Sosongco, MSgt. Carlos Bayeta, Pat. Hustin Peter Guiar, Pat. Rommer Bugarin, Pat. Hassan Kalaw, Pat. Dennis Carolino, Cpl. Joshua Ivan Baltazar, Pat. Nathaniel Gomez, Lt. Ashrap Amerol;

SMSgt. Jerrywin Rebosora, SMSgt. Marian Mananghaya, MSgt. Lorenzo Catarata, SSgt. Arnold Tibay Col. Arnulfo Ibanez, Lt. Col. Glenn Gonzalez, Maj. Michael Angelo Salmingo, Lt. Randolph Pinon, Pat. Mario Atchuela, Pat. Windel De Ramos, Lt. Silverio Bulleser II, CMsgt. Emmanuele Docena, PMsgt. Alejandro Flores, Cpl. Jhan Roland Gelacio, Pat. James Osalvo, Pat. Darius Camacho and MSgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr.

The HDO was issued based on a motion filed by state prosecutors last January 10 against the accused.

The court held a hearing last January 16 where it granted the prosecution’s motion for the issuance of the HDO after it “found merit in the argument of the movant” that there is a high probability of the accused fleeing the country.

The PNP last Monday said one of the generals ordered arrested by the Manila court over the controversial raid had left the country.

The general, who was not identified, left the country last January 8, more than a week before the Manila court issued the arrest warrant against them, the PNP said.

There are two generals in the case – Santos, the former PNP deputy chief for operations, and Domingo, the former chief of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group.

The PNP said it is considering coordinating with Interpol to bring the accused to the bar of justice.

The Bureau of Immigration has yet to name the general who had left the country and his destination.

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