PDEG 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 on April 11, 2023. File picture from INQUIRER.net / Faith Argosino
MANILA, Philippines — Senators grilled a top Philippine National Police official who was charged over the alleged cover-up of irregularities during a big-time operation last year.
The lawmakers were criticizing the alleged lapses in the protocols during the activity.
Relieved Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group Director Police Brigadier General Narciso Domingo was the object of the queries.
He appeared in the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs hearing.
He was among the 49 officials charged over the alleged cover-up of irregularities in connection with the seizure of 990 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine or shabu worth P6.7 billion and the attempted pilfering of some of the confiscated in October 2022.
READ: 49 cops face raps for drug raid cover-up, pilferage try
In his opening speech, Domingo denied any irregularity in the operations.
He said the 990 kilos of shabu “were properly inventoried in the presence of mandatory witnesses and in accordance with law.”
Domingo said the mandatory witnesses arrived after the operation, which Senator Bong Revilla questioned.
“Why after the operation? Di ba dapat bago pumasok sa bahay kasama nyo sila para natignan ang ginagawa ninyo?” Revilla asked.
(Why after the operation? They should have entered the house together with you so they could observe what you did.)
Senator Raffy Tulfo echoed Revilla’s remark, saying, “Dapat po talaga habang kino-conduct niyo ang raid, nandoon po sana ang observers niyo. Anong guarantee namin na wala kayong naitago, naipuslit na mga ebidensya bago dumating ang media, bago dumating ang witness?”
(While you were conducting the raid, the observers should have been there. What is the guarantee that you did not hide the evidence before the arrival of the media and witnesses?)
Tulfo continued, ”In this case, doon po kayo nagkaroon ng lapses. Di po nasunod ang supposed to be protocol pagdating po sa pagre-raid ng mga operative nyo. Do you agree sir?”
(In this case, that’s where you committed lapses. The supposed protocol was not followed when it came to the raiding of operatives. Do you agree, sir?)
Domingo, however, disagreed, saying the police were concerned about the safety of the witnesses.
But Tulfo said the mandatory witnesses should at least be “on the distance” during the operation.
“Dapat, nandoon na yung media, nandoon na yung agency na mag-o-observe from a distance pagkatapos ng raid. Punta na agad,” Tulfo said.
(The media should have arrived. The ones who will observe from a distance after the raid so that they can come immediately. They could already go.)
“Ang nangyari tatawagan nyo pa lang. Bibyahe pa po yung mga witness, yung mga observers, mga isang oras or thirty minutes. Madami nang pwedeng mangyaring milagro in that span of 30 minutes. Na-gets niyo po? Am I making sense to you, General?” the senator asked.
(But what happened was you just called them. Then, they traveled for around 30 minutes to one hour. There are many miracles that can happen in a span of 30 minutes. Do you get me?)
Domingo, however, insisted that Section 21 of RA 9165 requires the arrival of mandatory witnesses after the seizure.
“As per Section 21 of Republic Act 9165, the mandatory witnesses are required for after seizure and confiscation of the illegal drugs, so the inventory must be conducted with the mandatory witnesses after the seizure, Sir,” he said.
Tulfo, however, stressed that Domingo missed the point.
“Talagang hindi nakaka-intindi si general eh. He doesn’t get it. He doesn’t get it. Napakasimple ng sinasabi nga ni Senator Revilla at ako. Sana po during the raid, nandoon po ang mga observers, Yung binanggit ni Senator Revilla. Then, pagdating po ng inventory, agad-agad, dumadating na po ang mga observers,” he said.
(The general doesn’t understand. He doesn’t get it. He doesn’t get it. What Senator Revilla and I are saying is very simple. During the raid, the observers should have been there. Then, before the inventory arrived, immediately, the observers also arrived.)
“Yun po yun, eh. Ganoon lang po po kasimple. Hindi nyo po sinunod iyon. Hindi nyo po sinunod iyon dahil mayroon kayong balak. At kung anong balak na yun, kaya nandito tayo lahat ngayon,” he said.
(That is what it was. It was that simple. You did not follow that. You did not follow that because you had a plan. And whatever that plan is, that is why we are all here.)
Tulfo, then, called Domingo out.
“Please, General. Don’t make a fool out of us, please,” the senator asked the police official.
Section 21, Article II of the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 provides that immediately after the seizure and confiscation, the physical inventory and photograph of seized illegal drugs should be done in the presence of the accused and their representative, as well as a representative from the media and the Department of Justice (DOJ) and any elected public official.
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