Twenty-nine former and incumbent policemen have been ordered arrested by the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) for their alleged involvement in the “staged” anti-illegal drugs operation in Manila where P6.7 billion worth of shabu was seized in 2022.
RTC Judge Gwyn P. Calina of Branch 44 ordered the arrest of the police officers who had been charged for the alleged delay and bungling in the prosecution of drug cases which are violations under Section 91 of Republic Act No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Ordered arrested were 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, and Pat. Darius R. Camacho.
Bail for their provisional liberty was set at P200,000 each.
In the order issued to law enforcers, Judge Calina said: “You are required to use at least one body-worn camera and one alternative recording devices, or a minimum of two devices, or such number as may be necessary to capture and record the relevant incidents in the execution of this warrant pursuant to the Rules on the Use of Body-Worn Cameras in the Execution of Warrants (A.M. No. 21-06-08-SC) issued by the Supreme Court and which became effective on 1 August 2021.”
The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed the case in court after releasing a resolution on the preliminary investigation conducted against the policemen.
The DOJ also charged them with planting of evidence, a violation under Section 29 of RA 9165, which is now pending before Manila RTC Branch 175.
The cases involved 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.
In its resolution, the DOJ panel of prosecutors found that based on closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footages and other pieces of evidence, the police operation was “staged.”
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 said.
It also 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.”