No cover-up, only lapses in controversial October 2022 drug op —ex-PDEG chief Domingo

Former Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-PDEG) director Police Brigadier General Narciso Domingo on Tuesday admitted  lapses in the October 2022 that netted P6.4 billion worth of shabu.

During the continuation of the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, Domingo also admitted not telling the panel the whole truth about the controversial anti-drug operation.

According to Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, the committee chairman, Domingo approached him after last week's hearing and said that he would divulge everything about the operation.

"Nu'ng una po, talagang pinoprotektahan namin, Sir, ang 990 [kilogram of shabu] case sa hangarin na never makawala si [dismissed Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo] Mayo, sa pinag-iingatan niyang mahigit isang toneladang shabu,” Domingo told the panel.

"Talagang pinoprotektahan natin 'yung 990 case na hindi sana ma-dismiss, hindi maapektuhan 'yung 990 case na naka-file sa korte po," he added.

Domingo narrated the chronology of events based on his personal knowledge, noting the assurance the panel gave that the probe is not covered by any court jurisdiction or government agency.

"I admit that there are lapses in our entire operation, but such judgement calls and procedural lapses were done by me in good faith based on the reports of my men," Domingo said.

One of the procedural lapses that he was referring to is when the operating team did not conduct an inventory on the scene after confiscating two kilograms of shabu from Mayo.

"Dito nagsimula ang lahat. Ang pinakaunang procedural lapse kasi ang nakasaad sa batas kung saan doon nahuli, doon ang inventory kasama ang mga witness. Di po ginawa ng operating team yon," he said.

However, Domingo explained that if they had followed the rule, they might not have discovered the 990 kilogram of shabu.

After the seizure of the two kilograms of shabu, Domingo said he informed former PNP Deputy Chief for Operation Police Brigadier General Benjamin Santos Jr. that there was a report from the Special Operations Unit 4A about more or less 500 more kilograms of shabu.

When the information led to the confiscation of the 990 kilograms of shabu, Domingo said a "violation" was committed when policemen pilfered around 42 kilograms of the seized contraband.

Another procedural lapse that he admitted was his submission of a sketchy report made by PDEG Special Operations Unit Region 4A chief Police Col. Julian Olonan to then-PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. and the PNP command group at around 5:34 p.m. on October 8.

In the said report, Domingo said Mayo was not implicated and only a certain Ney Atadero was mentioned.

"Sa mga oras na ito may panukala na si Colonel Olonan at Col. [Arnulfo] Ibañez na may makukha pang malaking bodega ng shabu at si Mayo ang makapagtuturo," Domingo said.

Ibanez was Mayo's superior at the time of the operation.

"I was too presumptive on the regularity of my men's performance of duty, your honor," Domingo told the committee.

At the time, Doming said his guidance to his subordinates was to file appropriate cases against Mayo even if he was set to give information on the follow-up operation on a supposed bigger shabu warehouse. 

Eventually, Domingo said Azurin ordered the cancellation of the follow-up operations.

"[Around[ 9:32 p.m. tumawag and dating  chief PNP at nag-utos na i-cancel ang follow up operation at i-secure si Mayo dahil baka maglinis ng dumi si Police Colonel Ibanez at patayin si Mayo," Domingo said.

"Masyado po akong nagtiwala sa mga taong naabutan ko sa PDEG at hindi ko pa sila masyadong kilala dahil sa operasyong ito, dalawang buwan pa lang ako sa PDEG at that time," he added.

Domingo maintained that if there was really a cover up he would not report about the 990 kilogram of shabu and Mayo and his supposed accomplice Atadero would not be charged in court.

"Kung may tangka po akong i-cover up katulad ng pinagsasabi ng marami,  hindi ko na sana ni-report ang nahuling 990 kilograms na shabu at 'di ko na sana nakasuhan si Mayo at si Atadero," he said. —KBK, GMA Integrated News