Sacked Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group head Police Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo (left) and PDEG Special Operations Unit Region 4A chief Police Col. Julian Olonan hold a press conference at Camp Crame, Quezon City in this file photo taken on April 11, 2023. INQUIRER.net file photo/ Faith Argosino
MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine National Police – Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) head Police Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo may face heavier charges after 49 PDEG officers are set to face administrative and criminal charges in connection with the seizure of 990 kilograms of shabu worth P6.7 billion in 2022, which some officers allegedly tried to cover up, and even pilfer.
READ: 49 cops face raps for drug raid cover-up, pilferage try
To recall, Domingo, who initially denied the existence of a cover up, has since been relieved from his post after it was discovered PDEG officers tried to cover up the arrest of anti-narcotics operative Police Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo in October, 2022, in connection with the P6.7 billion illegal drugs.
READ: ‘No attempted cover-up’: PDEG chief heeds call to take leave over drug case
“Alam ninyo, the higher the responsibility the higher the accountability, kasi, hindi pwede ‘yon, you are the commander, you should know what is happening to your men. Kaya nga sinasabi namin ‘keep the commander informed,’” said PNP-Investigation and Detective Management Director Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz in a press briefing on Sunday.
(You know, the higher the responsibility the higher the accountability, because this shouldn’t be possible. You are the commander, you should know what is happening to your men. That’s why we say ‘keep the commander informed.’)
“I believe na mas mataas ang kaniyang haharaping kaso sa administrative na kinakaharap nila ngayon,” he added.
(I believe that the case he will face is higher than the administrative case they are facing now.)
Cruz then stressed that accepting a rank promotion within the PNP means accepting a higher responsibility,
“Kung ano man ang pagkakamali doon apektado ang buong organization [whatever mistake is made from there affects the entire organization],” he added.
Demoralization
Meanwhile, Cruz admitted that the recently uncovered irregularities committed by PNP-PDEG personnel have demoralized the organization, but continued to urged all PNP personnel to stick to their mandate and not be too affected.
“For every offense committed by our personnel, we are the complainants hindi pupwedeng wala kaming pakialam kasi kami ito eh, kami ang bumubuo ng PNP [we cannot be complacent because this is us, we form the PNP],” said Cruz.
“Talagang it affects the morale of our organization, pero kami as senior officers, we encourage our men to continue our job everyday, ‘wag magpaapekto especially those who are in the police stations, police regional offices because they are the frontliners, kaya ‘pag na-low moral ang mga tao natin, ‘yung taumbayan, crime prevention ang maapektuhan,” said Cruz.
(It really affects the morale of our organization, but we as senior officers, we encourage our men to continue our job everyday, do not be affected especially those who are in the police stations, police regional offices because they are the frontliners. So when our people have low morals, the people and crime prevention will be affected.)
Investigation to continue
Cruz also assured the public that the Special Investigation Task Group 990’s (SITG 990) investigation on the said irregularities will continue, stating that its recent findings only concentrated on the 42 kilos PDEG officers attempted to pilfer from the 990 kilos of shabu seized in 2022.
“Initially, we focused on the 42 kilos, at nai-present na natin ‘yung result ng investigation, and patuloy pa rin ito, we are not closing the investigation, we welcome this as an extension of our job as SITG,” he said.
(Initially, we focused on the 42 kilos, and we have presented the result of the investigation, and it is still ongoing, we are not closing the investigation, we welcome this as an extension of our job as SITG.)
He added that the SITG is also currently investigating further possible offenses committed in connection with the seizure of 990 kilograms of shabu.
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