New PDEG chief named amid controversy on P6.7B Manila drug haul
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has appointed a new director of its Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) following the controversy surrounding the alleged massive cover-up for Police Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo, Jr. who was tagged in the P6.7 billion drug haul in Manila last year.
Police Brig. Gen. Faro Antonio Olaguera was named as the new PDEG director, replacing Police Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo who was forced to go on leave based on the directive of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos.
Olaguera, a member of the PNP Academy Class of 1989, used to be assigned to the PNP Legal Service.
Domingo is now on a floating status as he was assigned to the Office of the Chief PNP.Â
Domingo and the head of PDEG in Region 4A, Police Col. Julian Olonan, were then first to comply with Abalos order. Seven other PDEG officials are yet to comply.
They were all seen in CCTV footage which Abalos described as proof of an effort to spare Mayo from the 990 kilos of shabu seized in a lending agency he owns in Sta. Cruz, Manila.Â
The highest ranking official implicated, Police Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos, already retired from the service last month.Â
Both Domingo and Olonan denied protecting Mayo, saying that what was shown in a video is actually a tactical move to seize more shabu supposedly in a Pasig City warehouse which was squealed by Mayo after his arrest.Â
Aside from the PDEG, the Highway Patrol Group has also a new director, Police Brig. Gen. Raul Bargamento who replaced Police Brig. Gen. Clifford Gairanod who voluntarily quit his post due to the controversy surrounding an alleged hazing victimizing a motorcycle riding course trainee involving his son.
Bargamento is a member of PNP Academy Class of 1991.Â