The Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered the filing of criminal charges against 30 policemen, some of them senior police officers, for “simulated arrests” in the 2022 anti-illegal drugs operation in Manila where 990 kilograms of shabu worth P6.7 billion were seized.
In a 47-page joint resolution, a DOJ panel of prosecutors approved the filing of charges 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.
To be charged are PLt.Gen. Benjamin D. Santos Jr., PBGen. Narciso D. Domingo, PCol. Julian T. Olonan, PLt.Col. Dhefry A. Punzalan, PLt. Jonathan G. Sosongco, PMSG Carlos C. Bayeta, Pat. Hustin Peter A. Guiar, Pat. Rommer I. Bugarin, Pat. Hassan O. Kalaw, Pat. Dennis L. Carolino, PCpl. Joshua Ivan Baltazar, Pat., Nathaniel Gomez, PLt. Ashrap T. Amerol, PSMS Jerrywin H. Rebosora, PSMS Marian E. Mananghaya, PMSG Lorenzo S. Catarata, PSSG Arnold D. Tibay, PCol. Arnulfo G. Ibanez, PLt.Col. Glenn Gonzalez, PMaj. Michael Angelo C. Salmingo, PLt. Randolph A. Pinon, Pat. Mario M. Atchuela, Pat. Windel C. De Ramos, PLt. Silverio P. Bulleser II, PCMS Emmanuele E. Docena, PMSG Alejandro F. Flores, PCpl. Jhan Roland L. Gelacio, Pat. James G. Osalvo, Pat. Darius R. Camacho, and PMSG Rodolfo B. Mayo.
After preliminary investigation, the DOJ panel of prosecutors resolved the complaints filed by National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).
The case stemmed from the alleged buy-bust operation against WPD Lending in Tondo, Manila that led to the arrest of Nely Saligumba Atadero and the seizure of 990 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu on Oct. 8, 2022 as well as the arrest of PMSG Rodolfo B. Mayo during a hot pursuit operation on Oct. 9, 2022 at the Quezon Bridge in Quiapo, Manila.
“After careful evaluation of all affidavits and evidence at hand, the panel concludes that the arrest of Ney Atadero at WPD Lending on Oct. 8, 2022 and the hot pursuit operation against PMSG Mayo in the early morning of Oct. 9, 2022 were simulated arrests,” stated the resolution of the DOJ panel.
Citing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and other pieces of evidence, the panel found “the two had previously been actually held by the police officers on the same day, and the concerned operatives already had knowledge that there were voluminous quantities of shabu inside WPD Lending.”
The panel noted Mayo had been arrested earlier in Bambang in Tondo, Manila for allegedly possessing two kilograms of shabu, while “Atadero can be seen from the still shots of the CCTV footage that he was in WPD Lending office freely roaming around the vicinity…”
“In fact, Mayo was arrested earlier in Bambang Street without any appropriate arrest, seizure, and inventory of the seized articles in accordance with law,” said the panel.
“Thereafter, he was then brought to WPD Lending where he was held in custody up to the time of the arrival of the PNP senior officials,” it added.
The panel said “the responsible police officers, with the objective of freeing Mayo and with knowledge and actual direction of the superior officers, then concocted a plan through which Mayo would be released and not criminally charged.”
“To carry this out, Mayo was included in an operation to supposedly apprehend a bigger drug personality in Pasig City,” it pointed out.
However, it said the operation was “a mere service of an arrest warrant against a certain Juden Francisco, which led only to the seizure of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.”
The DOJ resolution on the filing of the charges was signed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rassendell Rex F. Gingoyon, Assistant State Prosecutor Michael John M. Humarang, Assistant State Prosecutor Mary Grace V. Pulido-Sadian and Prosecution Attorney Normandale O. Manalo. It was approved by Prosecutor General Richard Anthony D. Fadullon.