SILG Remulla: Probe looms after 30 cops charged over mishandling of drug haul

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Monday that there would be a Philippine National Police-wide investigation on drug hauls beginning 2016 following the recent order to file criminal charges against at least 30 cops.

Remulla's statement came after the Department of Justice had ordered the filing of criminal charges against 30 policemen in relation to the confiscation of over 900 kilos of shabu worth P6.7 billion during a series of anti-drug operations in Manila.

''Yes, we will go back to 2016 all the way down to 2022... it is our theory, but not proven, na dahil sa reward system na ginawa na instituted by the PNP when 2016 started, ang drug haul ay di nirereport at dahil may reward, kukuha sila ng tingi ilalagay doon, may reward, may accomplishment,'' Remulla explained.

(Because of the reward system instituted by the PNP in 2016, the drug haul was not reported and because there's supposedly a reward system, they will get a portion from that, there's a reward and an accomplishment.)

''So doon nagkaroon ng bodega, kuha, arrest, reward, promotion... parang naging ganoon ang naging sistema nila,'' he added.

(There's an arrest, a reward, a promotion... that's the system.)

Grand conspiracy?

Following the developments on the case, Remulla believed that ''there appears to be a grand conspiracy to conceal a criminal enterprise within the PNP.''

''It must be inherent in the institution that with the responsibility of being an officer of the law comes with the power alone does not make you impervious the prosecution,'' Remulla said.

''We have pursued the fullness of this case on administrative level, however, the final determination of criminal liability rest with the Department of Justice and the courts concerned,'' he added.

The former Duterte administration began a deadly campaign against illegal drugs in 2016, which claimed thousands of lives. It has been linked to human rights violations and abuse of power of some authorities.  

In its joint resolution, a panel of prosecutors has filed charges against the cops, including two high ranking police generals, for violations of Republic Act (RA) 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, particularly on the planting of evidence under Section 29 and the delay and bungling in the prosecution of drug cases under Section 92.

The case was centered on dismissed Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. who was nabbed as authorities confiscated some 990 kilograms of suspected shabu with an estimated value of over P6.7 billion during drug operations in Manila.

Mayo served as an intelligence officer for the PNP Drug Enforcement Group, based on police records. He was dismissed in March 21, 2023, over three counts of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

A portion of the resolution read, ''The incident material to this criminal violation pertains to the bogus hot pursuit operation against Mayo where he was allegedly caught with two kilograms of shabu at Quezon Bridge. As earlier discussed, this was merely concocted and staged with the intention of remedying the previous botched anti-drugs operation against Mayo, after realizing that he must not be set free.''

The prosecutors argued that there has been a conspiracy in view of curing and covering up a botched police operation.

In relation to this, Remulla also said he is eyeing to look into the PNP Reform and Organization Act of 1998 to avoid this kind of incident from happening again.

''Unang-una, gusto naming baguhin ang PNP Reform Law kasi ang lumalabas dito, 'yung mga involved sa... 'yung officers involved ay walang specialty sa ginagawa nila. Obviously Major General Domingo, Major General Santos were not duly informed or not specialized in drug cases so it seems na nagkamali sila sa decision-making,'' he said.

(We need to amend the PNP Reform Law because this shows that the officers involved had no specialty with their duties. Obviously Major General Domingo, Major General Santos were not duly informed or not specialized in drug cases so it seems they committed a mistake in the decision-making)

''Ang gusto namin magkaroon ng institutional memory ang bawat department, from drug enforcement to cybercrime to administration to investigation... dapat specialized na talaga ang mga policemen,'' he added.

(We want each department to have an institutional memory from drug enforcement to cybercrime to administration to investigation. The cops should be specialized.)

Strong evidence

Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said the pieces of evidence against the police officers are strong.

''As far as the evidence had represented to us and as far as the person charged, the 30 police officers with ranks of Police Lieutenant. General, Police Brigadier General, all the way down to Police Master Sergeant, we believe that  the evidence is strong enough to warrant a conviction,'' Fadullon said at the same briefing.

''Because we have this new policy in the department now, we only make sure that the cases that were elevated in court are cases which will be able to withstand  rigorous trials and end  up in eventual conviction,'' he added.

Fadullon said there is also a need to look at the situation or the circumstances surrounding the recovery.

''So, all depends on the evidence that will be submitted to us, we will make the necessary assessment and if we are convinced that there is a need to include other personalities we will do so,'' he said.

— RSJ, GMA Integrated News