Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame
MANILA, Philippines – The National Prosecution Service (NPS) dismissed the complaint against 44 policemen, including two high-ranking officers, for misappropriating a portion of the P6.7 billion worth of illegal drugs seized in 2022.
Purportedly, some members of the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Drug Enforcement Group attempted to withhold 42 kilograms from the seized 990 kilograms of shabu.
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The misappropriated drugs were eventually recovered in front of the Public Safety Mutual Benefits Fund building near Camp Crame.
The recovered drugs were packaged in green Chinese tea bags, which is similar to the packages and parcels being carted away from a lending station in Tondo, Manila, as shown on the closed circuit television (CCTV).
However, the panel of prosecutors noted that while it is true that the CCTV footage showed that police officers were seen bringing out packages WPD Lending office in Tondo Manila where the billions-worth of shabu was seized, there is no inventory of contents of the bags and luggages.
“In other words, there is nothing in the facts obtaining that clearly proved that the said bags and luggages really contained shabu,” read the prosecutors’ resolution.
“We find that complainants were not able to present satisfactory proof that would establish respondents’ liabilities,” it added.
READ: 30 cops face raps over mishandling of P6.7-B shabu bust
Although there is not enough evidence of misappropriation, the prosecutors still filed cases against 30 police officers filed cases of planting of evidence and delay and bungling of the prosecution of a drug case for covering up and trying to correct their error in arresting two drug suspects.