By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – A retired police general linked to the mishandling of the PHP6.7 billion drug haul in 2022 returned to the country and surrendered to the authorities on Tuesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the arrest warrant was served to Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr. (ret.), former PNP deputy chief for operations, shortly after he arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 4:48 a.m. Tuesday.
“He surrendered to the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) and he underwent normal booking procedures,” Fajardo said.
Santos, however, was released around 9:12 a.m. after posting PHP200,000 bail, Fajardo said.
Santos was among the 29 former and active PNP members who were ordered arrested by a Manila court over the bungled anti-drug operation.
“Retired Gen. Santos last week sent surrender feelers. Actually, surrender feelers and request for assistance sa pag-post ng bail (to post bail),” Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III told reporters in a press conference held at Camp Crame.
“Kanina dumating siya, mineet siya ng mga PNP personnel sa airport (He arrived this morning, he was met by PNP personnel at the airport) and together with his lawyer he voluntarily surrendered to RTC Branch 44 in Manila and they facilitated the posting of the bail. Meron na siyang ( He has) release order and he is already temporarily a free man,” he added.
Torre said only seven of the 29 wanted police officers remain at large, including former Drug Enforcement Group chief Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, who posted a 16-minute video on his Facebook account last Jan. 31 urging President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to look into their case.
“We are in the process of locating Gen. Domingo. May mga tracker teams tayong binuo para hanapin. Actually, not only Gen. Domingo but the six others. So 7 silang at large na natitira (there seven who remain at large),” Torre said.
“They already have an HDO (Hold Departure Order) from the court so the immigration will block their exit kung sila ay mag attempt na lumabas ng bansa (if they will attempt to exit),” he added.
Domingo supervised the October 2022 operation that led to the confiscation of 990 kg. of shabu and the arrest of a rogue anti-narcotics officer, dismissed S/Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr.
A Manila court has ordered the arrest of 29 police officers for violation of Section 92 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which pertains to the bungling of the prosecution of drug cases, a bailable offense.
Another Manila court issued a separate warrant for the officers’ arrest for violation of Section 29 of the anti-drug law, which is planting of evidence, a non-bailable offense. (PNA)
