Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16) — Former Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group chief Narciso Domingo admitted on Tuesday that mandatory witnesses were only called up right after the massive anti-illegal drug operation in Manila last year, which led to the seizure of ₱6.7-billion worth of shabu.
Senator Raffy Tulfo questioned why witnesses were only available right after the buy-bust operation.
\”Anong guarantee namin na mayroon na kayong naitago o naipuslit na ebidensya bago dumating ang mga media o witnesses? In this case, dito kayo nagkaroon ng lapses,\” said Tulfo during the Senate hearing.
[Translation: What’s our guarantee that you have not pilfered or hidden the evidence before the media or witnesses arrived? In this case, there are already lapses here.]
\”Sa isang oras na biyahe o sabihin natin 30 minutes, marami nang pwede mangyaring milagro in that span of 30 minutes,\” he added.
[Translation: Within an hour or say 30 minutes of travel, many things could have already happened in that span of 30 minutes]
CCTV footage caught some operatives of the PDEG behind the alleged pilferage of the seized drugs. A total of 990 kilos of shabu were found at a property of Police Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr.
The Supreme Court in 2022 reminded law enforcers to ensure the presence of mandatory witnesses – the media and representatives from the Department of Justice – during drug operations, in line with the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2022.
Domingo admitted that he also arrived after the buy-bust operation because he was not informed beforehand by PDEG Special Operations Unit Region 4A chief PCol. Julian Olonan about the operation.
“For the record, may I emphasize there was no massive, attempted cover up as already portrayed in the media, otherwise, I would not have taken action and reported the following to the national police headquarters,” said Domingo.
“I was informed at about past 1 o’clock in the afternoon, but the operation started at past 11 in the morning,” he added.
But Tulfo was not convinced with Domingo’s reason.
