By Benjamin Pulta

SUSPECT. Senator Ronald Dela Rosa (right) talks to dismissed M/Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr. during a Senate inquiry on May 16, 2023. The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 44 on Tuesday (Jan. 28, 2025) issued a hold departure order against Mayo and 29 others over the alleged mishandling of the PHP6.7-billion drug haul in Tondo, Manila in October 2022. (PNA file photo by Avito Dalan)

MANILA – The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) issued a hold departure order (HDO) against 30 police officers involved in the questionable PHP6.7-billion drug haul in Tondo, Manila in October 2022.

In an 11-page order, the Manila RTC Branch 44 granted the motion of the prosecution, citing the “probability that the accused will depart from the Philippines to evade arrest and prosecution of the offenses charged against them, in view of the gravity and the nature of the cases as well as their financial capacity to facilitate their departure.”

It directed the Bureau of Immigration to implement the order.

A retired police general who was among those charged has already left the country, the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed on Monday.

Included in the HDO are Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr., former deputy chief for operations; Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, former Drug Enforcement Unit director; and dismissed intelligence officer M/Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr., the supposed major suspect in the drug operation.

Excluding Mayo, 29 of the 22 suspects are still in the service.

Manila RTC Branches 175 and 44 earlier ordered the arrest of the 29. The bail was set at PHP200,000 each.

Mayo has entered a not guilty plea.

The officers’ supposed violations included planting of evidence and delay in the prosecution of the cases.

Police officials took 42 kg of shabu before the inventory of the confiscated 990 kg of illegal drugs, based on security footage.

The stolen shabu was later recovered. (PNA)