PNP: 22 cops in restrictive custody following charges over 2022 Mayo drug fiasco

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said 22 active police officers will be placed under restrictive custody after charges were filed against them over the supposed mishandling of the P6.7 billion drug haul in October 2022.

In a press briefing, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil ordered to put the said cops in restrictive custody and for them to be disarmed.

“Nagbigay na po siya ng instruction sa kaniyang staff po na i-under restrictive custody na po itong 22 at disarmahan na po pending yung issuance po ng warrant of arrest,” Fajardo said.

(He already gave instructions to his staff to put the 22 active cops under restrictive custody and for them to be  disarmed pending the issuance of the warrant of arrest.)

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said that there would be a PNP-wide probe on drug hauls beginning 2016 following the recent order to file criminal charges against at least 30 cops in connection with the controversial drug haul in 2022.

Of the 30 cops, Fajardo said 22 are still active police officers, two were “compulsory retired”, one was “resigned”, three were “optionally retired”, and two were “dismissed”.

A panel of prosecutors has filed charges against the cops, including two high ranking police generals, for violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The cops’ supposed violations include the planting of evidence and the delay and bungling in the prosecution of the drug cases.

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 in 2022.

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

''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,” the panel said in a resolution.

“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,” it added.

The prosecutors said that there has been a conspiracy in view of curing and covering up a botched police operation. —RF, GMA Integrated News