Police general linked to P6.7-B shabu haul has flown out of PH —PNP 

A police general with alleged ties to the P6.7-billion drug haul netted in Manila in 2022 has flown out of the country as authorities continue searching for eight other individuals in connection to the case, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday. 

“Yes, lumabas po siya noong January 8 prior sa issuance po ng warrant of arrest as I understood,” PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said in a press conference. 

(Yes, he flew out last January 8 prior to the issuance of a warrant of arrest as I understood.) 

The case centers on dismissed Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. who was nabbed as authorities confiscated some 990 kilograms of suspected shabu with an estimated value of over P6.7 billion during drug operations in Manila in 2022.

A panel of prosecutors has filed charges against 30 active and former cops, including two ranking police generals, for violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Of the 30 charged individuals, arrest warrants have been issued against 29 of them. 

Twenty are now in police custody. The remaining nine, including the absent police general, remain at large: four active cops, three retired personnel, one has resigned, and another was dismissed from service. 

No surrender feelers

The authorities have yet to receive any hints of surrender from them.

“Kausap ko po kanina si [Brigadier] General [Nicolas] Torre, as far as CIDG is concerned, wala po silang nare-receive na any surrender feelers po,” said Fajardo. 

(I talked to General Torre earlier, as far as the CIDG is concerned, they have yet to receive any surrender feelers.) 

When asked if a hold departure order will be issued against the eight others, the PNP said it is up to the prosecutors. 

“We will have to wait kung yung prosecution will be applying for a hold departure order since naisampa na kaso sa korte. So we expect a corresponding HDO will be filed,” said Fajardo. 

(We will have to wait if the prosecution will be applying for a hold departure order since the case was filed before the court. So we expect a corresponding HDO to be filed.)

The PNP called on the individuals to surrender.

“Kung nakikinig po sila, at may nakakapanood po sa kanila na mga kakilala nila at mga mahal sa buhay, I think it would be in their best interest po na sumuko na lamang po sila katulad po ng ginagawa ng iba nilang kasamahan,” said Fajardo.

(If they are listening or their loved ones are watching, I think it would be in their best interest to surrender just like what their colleagues have done.) 

“Bibigyan naman po sila ng pagkakataon, as a matter of due process, na sagutin itong mga reklamo na ito.” 

(They will be given a chance, as a matter of due process, to explain to the complaints against them.)   — BM, GMA Integrated News