12 of 29 cops in drug case mishandling in custody

Twelve of the 29 police officers involved in the P6.7 billion drug case mishandling are now in custody, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

On January 15, the Manila Regional Trial Court ordered the arrest of these 29 policemen following allegations that they attempted to cover up irregularities during the seizure of shabu.

As of Monday, twenty officers have been placed under PNP custody with ten in arresting units and nine at the custodial center; one is in Manila City Jail.

Four out of the remaining nine officers who are still at large are active police officials, while three are retired and one was dismissed from service. One of these nine is currently outside the country having left before the issuance of the arrest warrant on January 8.

The case stems from an operation on October 10, 2022, which yielded 990 kilograms of shabu, and the subsequent arrest of Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr., who was later dismissed.

Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesperson, noted that the PNP has not received surrender feelers from those still at large and assured they will continue efforts to apprehend them until all are accounted for.