Press Briefing

Press Briefing of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Justice (DOJ), National Prosecution Service (NPS), and National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) January 13, 2025


Event Press Briefing with DILG, DOJ, NPS, NAPOLCOM
Location New Executive Building, Malacañang, Manila

PCO ASEC. DE VERA: Magandang umaga, Malacañang Press Corps. Welcome sa ating press briefing ngayong araw, January 13. Kasama natin ngayon sina Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla; Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla; Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon; and National Police Commission Vice-Chairperson and Executive Officer Ricardo Bernabe III para sa isang mahalagang usapin. Good morning, gentlemen. May we ask Secretary Jonvic Remulla for an opening statement.

DILG SEC. REMULLA: Thank you for being here. With me on the panel are the DILG and Napolcom. The following are Napolcom Vice-Chair Executive Attorney Rico Bernabe; from the DOJ, Secretary Boying Remulla; Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon; on the right is also Senior Undersecretary Raul Vasquez.

Naniniwala kami sa kakayahan at integridad ng nobenta y nuebe porsiyento ng dalawandaan libong kapulisan. Naniniwala kami na sila ay maayos at tuwid sa trabaho. Nguni’t ang ganiyang kalaking organisasyon ay mahirap maging perpekto. Iyong kakaunting dumudungis sa pangalan ng PNP ay dapat kalusin at ilagay sa tamang daan. Ang nais nating lahat, kasama ang kapulisan, ay kapayapaan.

Magandang umaga po sa ating lahat. Nandito po tayo para ilahad ang mga sumusunod: Una, ang laban kontra droga noon pa man ay mandato na ng PNP. Nguni’t ang mandato na ito ay imposibleng maisakatuparan kung ang ilang nanunumpa sa katungkulan ang siya mismong kasama sa problema. Ito ay bunga ng mga iligal na kalakaran katulad ng EJK. Ang mga naatasan na lumaban kontra droga ang siya mismong gumagawa ng paraan para kumita at makinabang mula rito na siyang nagdudulot ng lalong paglaganap ng iligal na droga.

Ang katarungan na may matibay na paniniwala sa tama ay hindi matitinag ng takot kaugnay ng pananagutang administratibo, sinuri ng komisyon ang bawat kaso batay sa mga indibidwal na partisipasyon ng napatunayan ng ebidensiya at nagpataw ng naaangkop na parusa na walang kinikilingan at walang palakasan. Ang aming layunin ay maglabas lamang ng katotohanan at maghatid ng katarungan.

I now turn it over to Vice-Chair Rico Bernabe to explain the merits of the case.

NAPOLCOM VCEO BERNABE III: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Magandang umaga po sa ating lahat.

To provide a clear understanding of the matter, we will present the background of the entire Mayo Case in several chapters simplifying the details for easier comprehension.

We now proceed with the very first chapter of this case which is the Drug Transaction. On October 8, 2022 at 12:38 P.M., Sergeant Rodolfo B. Mayo was captured on CCTV at the Wealth and Personal Development Lending office located at Abad Santos, Tondo, Manila carrying a white paper bag, boarding his silver Mitsubishi Montero and leaving shortly thereafter.

Assuring the footage, Sgt. Mayo wearing a white shirt returned to his car carrying a white paper bag of what is believed to contain two kilograms of shabu. Please note that the WPD lending office is registered to a private corporation [unclear] officially owned by Sgt. Mayo.

Between 12:42 to 1 P.M. on the same date, members of the Special Operating Unit Region IV-A – SOU4A for brevity – a unit under the Philippine Drug Enforcement Group or PDEG led by team leader Capt. Jonathan Sosongco conducted an anti-illegal drug operation at Bambang St., Tondo, Manila, resulting in the arrest of Sgt. Mayo for selling two kilograms of shabu. Notably, the operation was unreported and undocumented.

The members of the operating team at Bambang are as follows: Capt. Jonathan Sosongco; Patrolman Rommar Bugarin; Patrolman Hassan Kalaw; Sgt. Carlo Bayeta; Patrolman Hustin Peter Gular; and Patrolman Dennis Carolino.

Although, officially unreported and undocumented, the fact of the said buy-bust operation is evidenced by admissions and testimonies of and Viber messages between PNP officials.

We now proceed to the next chapter of this case which is the Spoils of War, The Discovery of the Large Drug Haul. Now, we mentioned earlier that Sgt. Mayo was arrested at Bambang St., however, instead of officially reporting the arrest and complying with the chain of custody rule, members of the SOU4A with Sgt. Mayo in custody proceeded to the WPD Lending office for an alleged follow-up operation in anticipation of a large drug haul.

CCTV footage shows the silver Mitsubishi Montero returning to the WPD Lending office at around 1 P.M. on the same date. Assuring the footage, the operative in blue alighting from the silver Mitsubishi Montero is Capt. Sosongco while the rest are members of his operating team SOU4A.

Inside the WPD Lending office, the operatives of the SOU4A discovered a massive stash of shabu. Between 1:39 P.M. and 2:16 P.M., Sgt. Mayo was escorted into the WPD Lending office and back to his vehicle three times. The theory is that Sgt. Mayo was directed to open the vaults located inside. Moreover, as can be observed in the footages, in all three instances, Sgt. Mayo was in handcuffs which corroborates the drug transaction and this arrest in Bambang, Tondo, narrated earlier in Chapter 1.

The third chapter of the Mayo Case will show operatives hauling away large portions of the drugs among others located at the WPD Lending office. From 1:48 to 2:20 P.M., members of the Intelligence and Foreign Liaison Division – IFLD for brevity – under the PDEG were seen misappropriating from the large amount of shabu found at the WPD Lending office.

As shown in the footage, from 1:48 to 1:51 P.M., Sgt. Lorenzo Catarata misappropriated one medium-sized luggage of shabu as it was loaded inside the white Honda Civic. Validated information from the PNP reveal that the white Honda Civic is owned by Sgt. Catarata.

Thereafter, at 2:13 P.M., Sgt. Catarata and Sgt. Arnold Tibay can be seen in the footage misappropriating one luggage filled with shabu by carrying it onboard a red Yamaha NMAX motorcycle.

It can be noticed that the white Honda Civic and the red Yamaha NMAX are seen going in the same direction, to the right, as there is reportedly a safe house in that area.

At 2:05 P.M., Sgt. Jerrywin Rebosora can be seen carrying one duffle bag and placing it inside the black car through it left rear door.

As observed, the white Honda Civic and the red Yamaha NMAX returned to the WPD Lending office from the rightmost area where the safehouse is reportedly located. And at 2:20 P.M., Sgt. Catarata and Sgt. Rebosora can be seen loading one dark luggage in the trunk of the same white Honda Civic.

For the next slides, we will show you screenshots of CCTV footage taken from the report of the PNP Special Investigation Task Force Group 990, which identified the respondent police officers. So, here we see Sgt. Lorenzo S. Catarata, next is Sgt. Jerwin Rebosora, then here we have Sgt. Arnold Tibay.

The operatives seen in the next slides are part of the operating unit that arrested Sgt. Mayo at Bambang st., who likewise participated either directly or indirectly in the misappropriation of drug evidence. Here is Captain Sosongco. The team leader in the arrest of Sgt. Mayo in Bambang and then the members of his operating team SOU4A who failed to account for the drug evidence at the WPD Lending office.

So, how are we able to conclude that the contents of the haul are shabu, because days after the incident, Col. Rolando Portera, then Chief of the IFLD upon witnessing the acts committed by subordinates in the footage directed them to explain. Sgt. Rebosora admitted to Col. Portera, that the operatives “save more or less 30 kilograms of shabu intended as a reward for their confidential informant”.

Apparently, an illegal act and a blatant violation of the comprehensive drugs act of 2002 among other laws. This was duly reported by Col. Portera to Domingo, who directed the return of the saved drugs. Col. Portera, then facilitated the return of the misappropriated shabu, wherein 42 kilograms of said shabu was recovered in front of the Public Safety Mutual Benefits Fund building near Camp Crame.

It is noted that the investigation report dated October 26, 2022 from the Chief IFLD states that the said 42 kilograms was packaged in green chinese tea bags. Similarly, as seen in the pictures of the drugs seized at the WPD Lending office, they are likewise packed in green chinese tea bags.  The image also shows the vault mentioned earlier, which we theorized Mayo was directed to open.

Additionally, it can be observed that some of the shabu is stored in pieces of luggage similar to those loaded by the operatives into different vehicles.

Subsequently, from 2:28 PM t0 5:34 PM, packages and parcels were visibly carted away from the WPD Lending office as follows. As shown in the footage, from 2:28 to 2:31 pm, Sgt. Tibay alighted from the black sedan and headed towards the WPD Lending office, where operatives were loading more or less 19 packages into an L-300 van as estimated by the PNP.

Captain Sosongco can also be seen talking to operatives and looking for CCTV cameras in the area. At 4:41 PM an operative was seen carrying several paper and plastic bags from the WPD lending office before heading back.

And from 5:21 to 5:34, upon a direction of Major Salmingo, Lt. Cabral and Patrolman Veniegas were seen carrying green eco bags from the WPD Lending office.

So in the screenshot, we see Captain Sosongco, who in the first video of this chapter we’ve seen looking for CCTV cameras in the area and then, here we have Lt. Cabral and Patrolman Veniegas. We note that aside from the members of SOU4A and IFLD earlier identified other police officers who arrived at the WPD Lending office as follows.

So, we have Marian Mananghaya, a member of the lending IFLD who arrived at 3:03 PM and we have Ashrap Amerol, Team leader of the IFLD who arrived at 3:42 PM.

We now proceed to the next chapter of the Mayo case, which pertains to the cover-up. Due to reports of a large and unprecedented drug haul in the involvement of a PDEG officer. The following high-ranking officials of the PNP arrived at the WPD Lending office from 3:45 PM to 4:30 PM as follows.

Col. Olonan is the Chief of the SOU4A. He arrived at the WPD Lending office at 3:45. As shown in the footage, he may be seen alighting from a black pick-up truck and entering the WPD Lending office. Lt. Col. Ibañez, the Officer-In-Charge of the SOU-NCR and Major Salmingo arrived at the WPD Lending office at 3:54 PM.  Lt. Col. Ibañez was the Officer-in-charge of SOU-NCR, the same unit where Sgt. Mayo belongs to.

Police Brigadier General Domingo, the then Chief of PDEG arrived at 3:59 pm, as shown in the footage, General Domingo wearing a shirt and black shorts alighted from a white AUV and entered the WPD Lending office.

Lastly, Lt. Col. Gonzales, a former member of the IFLD, arrived at the WPD Lending office at 4:29 PM As shown in the footage, he can be seen wearing black shirt and pants before proceeding to the WPD Lending.

 So, we are showing you images of Col. Olonan, Col. Gonzales, Major Salmingo, Col. Ibañez and General Domingo.

So, to reiterate, between 3:45 to 4:30 PM, the senior officers arrived including Lt. Col. Ibañez, who is the superior of Sgt. Mayo and General Domingo the head of PDEG, presumably to approve the final details of the narrative to be declared. Remember, that there was no official declaration of any arrest or any anti-illegal drug operation as of this time.

At 4:45, the illegal drug operation was finally formally declared, wherein they stated that a buy-bust operation was conducted, resulting in the arrest of a certain Ney S. Atadero.

The caretaker of the WPD Lending office and the seizure of the remaining drugs which would later turnout to be approximately 990 kilograms of shabu. Notably, Sgt. Mayo was excluded from the declared buy-bust operation.

The first part of the coverup, therefore, pertains to the decision to exclude Sgt. Mayo from the report and inventory of the anti-illegal drugs operation at the WPD Lending office, and instead, implicate his employee, Ney Atadero. This false narrative was used by the operatives in official documents such as the report by General Domingo to the acting director for operations.

As you can see the document, General Domingo reported that a buy-bust operation was conducted at 4:45 P.M. on October 8 at the WPD Lending office, resulting in the arrest of Atadero only and the seizure of more or less 990 kilograms of shabu with an estimated standard drug price of approximately 6.7 billion. The same false narrative was further used in the submission for the DOJ and the court. However, CCTV footage shows that no buy-bust operation was conducted at 4:45 P.M. at the WPD Lending office.

So, we are showing you the footage at 4:45 P.M. We now move to the next chapter, The Game of the Generals.

The first part of the coverup as earlier stated pertains to the decision to exclude Sgt. Mayo from the declared buy-bust operation at 4:45. Now, the second part of the coverup pertains to the decision to release Sgt. Mayo under the guise of a follow-up operation. As may be recalled, Lieutenant Colonel Ibañez is the boss of Sgt. Mayo who both belong to the SOU-NCR. Thus, to ensure his release, Lieutenant Colonel Ibañez attempted to induce Domingo and Colonel Olonan by stating that there is a larger warehouse in Pasig City “na ituturo ni Mayo”.

At 6:24 P.M., Lieutenant General Benjamin D. Santos Jr., then the Deputy Chief for Operations, arrived at the WPD Lending office. As shown in the footage, Lieutenant General Santos alighted from a black SUV and entered the WPD Lending office.

Now, after Lieutenant General Santos left at 7:19 P.M., General Domingo, Colonel Olonan, Colonel Ibañez, Colonel Gonzales and Maj0r Salmingo converged at the right side of the building and brainstormed on whether “tutuluyan or tutulungan si Sgt. Mayo”.

So, all of these quotes that we’re saying, all of these are produced and evidenced and are corroborated by various testimony and affidavits which have been threshed out by the commission and can be provided in the decision itself.

So, giving into the inducement, General Domingo and Colonel Olonan approved Sgt. Mayo’s release. So, here’s the picture of Lieutenant General Benjamin D. Santos. As alleged by the General Domingo, Sgt. Mayo’s release was cleared by then Chief PNP Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. and Lieutenant General Santos.

During the hearing before the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on May 30, 2023, he stated that, “The Chief PNP Azurin and the then TDCO Santos approved my proposal. Sgt. Mayo and Colonel Ibañez assured me also by the way that they can pinpoint another warehouse with much, much bigger stocks of illegal drugs”. This corroborates our earlier conclusion that Lieutenant Colonel Ibañez induced General Domingo to release Sgt. Mayo by claiming that the latter news of another warehouse containing more drugs.

At around 7:45 P.M., PNP operatives were seen in the footage removing Sergeant Mayo’s handcuffs.

Thereafter, at 7:50 P.M., Major Salmingo, together with Sgt. Mayo, left the WPD Lending office to conduct a “follow-up operation in Pasig City”. The said operation later on will turn out to be just a mere service of a warrant of arrest.

In the joint affidavit of arrest of the members of SOU-NCR, it was stated that Sgt. Mayo was the arresting officer of Juden Francisco at Sorrento Oasis in Pasig City. Here, we can see Sgt. Mayo wearing a black facemask and blue PNP shirt appearing to arrest Juden Francisco.

So, in the next two slides, we will show the members of SOU-NCR involved in the service of warrant of arrest against Juden Francisco wherein Sgt. Mayo was made the arresting officer.

We now move to the last chapter, The Solution, wherein PNP officials concoct to the scenario to cover the slew of irregularities. To recall, we have established that Sergeant Mayo was already arrested between 12:40 to 1:00 o’clock P.M. at Bambang Street for selling two kilograms of shabu.

We have also established that Sergeant Mayo was brought to the WPD Lending office under the custody of PNP at 1:39 P.M. until 7:50 P.M., and that the declared buy-bust operation at 4:45 P.M. was conducted solely against Atadero, excluding Sergeant Mayo. Lastly, it has been established that Sergeant Mayo was released from police custody and assigned as an arresting officer against Juden Francsico.

Now, former PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva learned of the release of Sergeant Mayo, and texted then Chief PNP Rodolfo Azurin that, ‘‘According to the team leader of the operating team in Abad Santos, the PDEG leadership did not want to include the police officer in the arrest of Mayo because it will affect their reputation that is why they released him. According to him, ‘‘It was the arrested police officer who is disposing the items’’.   This prompted General Azurin to direct General Domingo to return Sergeant Mayo to the WPD Lending office.

However, we recall that the buy-bust was already declared at 4:45 P.M. only against Atadero, and that the inventory has already begun. Thus, in an attempt to address the irregularities in Sergeant Mayo’s earlier arrest and to cover up his subsequent release, Colonel Olonan, Captain Piñon and his team staged a hot pursuit operation against Sergeant Mayo. It was reported that this alleged operation took place at Quiapo Bridge, Quezon Boulevard, Quiapo, Manila at 2:30 A.M. on October 9, 2022 resulting in the arrest of Sergeant Mayo and the seizure of two kilograms of shabu.

Flash on the screen is Sergeant Mayo wearing a white shirt and black cap being arrested at Quiapo Bridge and the two kilograms of shabu laid on his vehicle. What is very telling is that earlier during the arrest of Juden Francisco, Sergeant Mayo as the arresting officer was seen wearing a blue PNP shirt, while in this picture we can see that Sergeant Mayo was made to change his outfit.

So, the next two slides, we will show the members of those involved in the simulated hot pursuit operation. Here are other police officers who are also found liable throughout the incidents in different capacities.

So, this concludes the narration of the background of the Mayo Case. We now proceed to discuss the developments in the administrative cases filed against the respondents.

On December 13 and 19, 2024 and January 6 and 9, 2025, the Napolcom En Banc resolved all the remaining cases covering 99 summary dismissal cases involving 56 respondents. As resolved by the Napolcom En Banc, 21 respondents were dismissed from the service; 16 respondents were demoted in rank; four respondents were suspended for six months and 12 respondents’ cases were dismissed. With respect to the three respondents who are presidential appointees, our recommendation for dismissal from the service shall be subject to the confirmation by the Office of the President.

Relative to the administrative case against LtGen. Santos, the summary dismissal proceedings against him was suspended on the count of a writ of preliminary injunction issued by Judge Alice Gutierrez Branch 193 of Marikina City Regional Trial Court.

Shown on the screen is the summary of the penalties imposed on the respondents.

Flashed on the screen is the chart of the personalities involved or mentioned throughout the incident.

It is estimated that 1.5 tons of shabu comprise the accounted and unaccounted haul in the Mayo Case with an estimated street value of 10.151 billion.

And that concludes our presentation. Thank you.

DILG SEC. REMULLA: That was the—before I turn it over to the SOJ. Considering the foregoing, this is my personal opinion, that there appears to be a grand conspiracy to conceal a criminal enterprise within the PNP. It must be inherent in the institution that with the responsibility of being an officer of the law comes with the power alone does not make you impervious the prosecution.

We have pursued the fullness of this case on administrative level, however, the final determination of criminal liability rest with the Department of Justice and the courts concerned.

I now turnover the floor to Department of Justice.

DOJ SEC. REMULLA: Thank you. The one to do the talking today would be PG Fadullon and Usec. Vasquez. I have no voice.

PROSECUTOR GENERAL FADULLON: Good morning, everyone. As a result of the investigation conducted by the Napolcom and the cases that were filed by both Napolcom and the CIDG, PNP CIDG, the Department of Justice as early as 2023 had already begun evaluating the cases that were referred to us

In a resolution that we issued last December, the Department of Justice recommended the filing of cases for violation of Section 29, that is planting of evidence, Section 29 of Republic Act 9165 against 30 individuals. And at the same time, we recommended the filing of information before the court for violation of Section 92, this is for delay and bungling in the prosecution of drug cases also under RA 9165 against 30 individuals. These cases have now been filed and now are pending before the Regional Trial Courts of Manila. We understand that for the last information provided to us, warrants of arrest have already been issued.

Also, as a consequence of these cases that we filed and based on the evidence that were submitted to us, we are convinced that the Department of Justice now has to seriously evaluate and re-evaluate the cases that have been filed earlier and are now pending before another Regional Trial Court in Manila. These are the cases filed against Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo and Ney Atadero which are now pending prosecution. The cases, we have to understand, that these cases were filed based on the information that we have, that were provided to the Department of Justice panel. These cases were investigated in an inquest proceeding by prosecutors from the Office of the City Prosecutor of Manila.

But after reviewing the evidence that were presented which resulted to the filing of the cases for bungling and planting of evidence, we believe and we are seriously considering the possibility of withdrawing these cases because it would now appear that these cases were filed based on false allegations and fallacious evidence.

PCO ASEC. DE VERA: We’re now—Usec. Vasquez, you want to add something?

USEC. VASQUEZ: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. With the receipt of the comprehensive report from the Napolcom, DILG and Napolcom, which led to the finding of guilt of many PNP officials, the matter will now be subjected to comprehensive case build-up under existing DOJ rules in order to determine who would be responsible criminally. And based on the evidence presented plus additional pieces of evidence that we may gather in the course of further investigation, we may be initiating the criminal cases in due time, and that would be initiated soon. We will re-evaluate pending cases in order to have quality cases and evidence-supported litigation against those responsible.

PCO ASEC. DE VERA: Thank you, sirs. We are now opening the floor to the Malacañang Press Corps for questions. First question, Chona Yu, Journal.

CHONA YU/PEOPLE’S JOURNAL: Secretary, good morning. Sir, moving forward, ano po ang gagawin ng DILG? Ano pong mga reporma ang ipatutupad sa PNP para hindi na maulit iyong ganitong insidente?

DILG SEC. REMULLA: Well, unang-una, gusto namin baguhin ang PNP reform law. Kasi ang lumalabas dito, iyong mga involved sa … officers involved ay walang specialty sa ginagawa nila. Obviously, Major General Domingo, General Santos were not duly informed or not specialized in drug cases. So, it seems na nagkamali sila sa decision-making. Ang gusto namin, magkaroon ng institutional memory ang bawat department, from drug enforcement to cybercrime, to administration, to investigation, dapat specialized na talaga ang mga policemen. That’s where we’re heading.

CHONA YU/PEOPLE’S JOURNAL: So, ano iyon, sir, parang may schooling na—

DILG SEC. REMULLA: No, we will introduce legislation para … from next year on, magkakaroon na ng four tracks ang PNP. Pagdating mo ng captain level, you will be either put at administration, investigation, cybercrime and administration. So, magkakaroon na ng institutional memory ang bawat department.

Ang nangyayari kasi ngayon, isang taon nasa investigation ka, dalawang taon nasa drug ka, isang taon nasa administration ka – palipat-lipat lang sila. So, iyong nakikita ninyo clearly na iyong mga top officers involved were not aware of the procedural matters to be followed, so lumaki nang lumaki. Ang nangyari, iyong nasa ilalim, sila iyong nagdidesisyon; iyong mga nasa taas, nakikisama na lang.

CHONA YU/PEOPLE’S JOURNAL: Sir, last na lang. Bakit hindi kasama sa kaso iyong dating PNP Chief na na-mention?

DILG SEC. REMULLA: Hindi siya kasama sa DILG Napolcom kasi noong hearing ng case na ito, retired na siya. But it does not make him impervious sa case buildup ng DOJ.

CHONA YU/PEOPLE’S JOURNAL: So, mayroon pa rin?

DILG SEC. REMULLA: Mayroon pa rin. Sa amin kasi, administrative lang eh; sa kanila ang criminal.

CHONA YU/PEOPLE’S JOURNAL: Pasok pa rin siya—

DILG SEC. REMULLA: Again, I must reiterate, there seems to be a grand conspiracy to conceal a criminal enterprise. Tingnan ninyo iyong kaso, from sergeant to chief PNP, kasama lahat sa kuwento.

CHONA YU/PEOPLE’S JOURNAL: Thank you, sir.

ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Secretary, magandang umaga po. Secretary, sino ba iyong tumatayong lider ng grupo?

DILG SEC. REMULLA: That has to be determined by the DOJ.

ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Pero, ang nabanggit din kasi dito, sir, si ano eh, dalawang general.

DILG SEC. REMULLA: Again, it has to be determined by the DOJ kung sino talaga ang kanilang—sa amin lang, kung ano ang nakita namin and the facts of the case.

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Hi, sir. Sir, do you see the need to look into the other previous arrest made by this unit to determine whether this is not a one-time thing?

DILG SEC. REMULLA: It is our theory that this goes all the way to 2016, naging institutional practice na siya mula 2016 hanggang nahuli ito ng 2022. It seems that it became a standard procedure ng mga ilang elements ng PNP na magkaroon ng mga drug haul, i-report ng kaunti, ibubodega ang marami. It seems to be that we and what we have done now, for the time is to show conclusively, that a criminal enterprise involving the selling, the arrest, the storage that intent to distribute and intent to cover up all in one day nangyari. So, it shows, that’s why, I said, a grand conspiracy of a criminal enterprise.

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Sir, following the revelation of these supposed criminal enterprises. Is there need to extend this investigation to other units of the PNP? Magkakaroon po ba ng PNP wide investigation?

DILG SEC. REMULLA: Yes, we will go back to 2016 all the way down to 2022.

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Again, sir, why 2016?

DILG SEC. REMULLA: It is our theory, but not proven na dahil sa reward system na ginawa ng instituted by the PNP in 2016 started, ang drug haul ay hindi nire-report at tuwing may—dahil may reward, kukuha sila ng tingi, ilalagay doon, may reward, may accomplishment. So, doon nagkaroon ng bodega, kuha, arrest, reward, promotion. Parang ganoon ang naging sistema nila.

PCO ASEC. DE VERA: Next question, Cleizl Pardilla, PTV 4.

CLEIZL PARDILLA/PTV 4: Sir, good morning. How compelling is the evidence to guarantee the conviction and imprisonment of those involved?

DILG SEC. REMULLA: I think PG should answer.

PROSECUTOR GEN. FADULLON: Yes, as far as the evidence had represented to us and as far as the person charged, the 30 police officers with ranks of Police Lieutenant. General, Police Brigadier General, all the way down to Police Master Sergeant, we believe that the evidence is strong enough to warrant a conviction. Because we have this new policy in the department now, we only make sure that the cases that were elevated in court are cases which will be able to withstand rigorous trials and end up in eventual conviction.

So, as far as the Department of Justice is concerned, with the two cases that were recently filed, we are confident that we will be able t0 muster a conviction for all those charged.

PCO ASEC. DE VERA: Next question, Ivan Mayrina, GMA7.

IVAN MAYRINA/GMA7: Sirs, may I ask again the status of these involved police officers, nabanggit po ninyo kanina, may mga summarily dismissed na, but none of them are under custody since wala pa hong warrant against them, tama po ba?

DILG SEC. REMULLA: Mayo and sino pa ba? Mayo is under custody right now. Siya kasi ang unang na-charge eh.

IVAN MAYRINA/GMA7: Siya lang po?

DILG SEC. REMULLA: At saka si Atadero yata?

IVAN MAYRINA/GMA7: Pero sino pa po ang nasa active service technically?

DILG SEC. REMULLA: Almost all of them.

IVAN MAYRINA/GMA7: Almost all of them.

DILG SEC. REMULLA: Yes, ibig sabihin, iyong mga iba niyan, retired na, like si Azurin was not included in our case build-up, because he was retired already when this case was brought forth.

IVAN MAYRINA/GMA7: Pero, are they still allowed to perform the duties of a police officer?

NAPOLCOM VCEO BERNABE III: We released the decision just recently, prior to the release, they were all in the active service, except for those who retired in the course of these proceedings. But, until this decision, they were still all active.

IVAN MAYRINA/GMA7: But, sir, knowing their involvement, possible involvement in something this big, this big of a crime, hindi po ba natin sila imo-monitor at least habang pending evaluation of their cases?

PROSECUTOR GEN. FADULLON: Well, I think considering the fact that there are already cases filed against them and, although mayroon na pong findings doon sa administrative case, it becomes necessary that we somehow, are aware of the movements, we are aware of the whereabouts of all these police officers, so that in the event that the warrants  are actually issued and received by the Philippine National Police, the same can be immediately and easily implemented. So, hinihintay lang po natin na lumabas iyong mga kaukulang warrant galing sa husgado at iyan naman po ay kaagad ipadadala sa PNP.

Now, considering na nasa serbisyo pa po iyong iba rito, dahil sa maaari pa naman po silang mag-apila doon sa kanilang administrative case, baka mas mapapadali po kung saka-sakali pong alam natin ang kanilang pinagkakalagyan sa ngayon.

IVAN MAYRINA/GMA7: Last question from my end, 1.5 tons of shabu a staggering quantity, na-trace na po ba natin kung saan galing ito at nasaan po itong drugs na ito as we speak?

DILG SEC. REMULLA: We have theories but unsubstantiated. Pero it looks like it came from the drug hauls in Pampanga, La Union, Pangasinan and Bulacan.

IVAN MAYRINA/GMA7: Imported po ito, hindi niluto dito?

DILG SEC. REMULLA: Hindi, imported lahat, lahat iyan, most of them, naka-chinese tea green bags and consistent with the investigations and over there, they would only declare, I think 10%, and the rest, nasa bodega na.

PCO ASEC. DE VERA: Next question Tristan Nadallo, NewsWatch Plus. 

TRISTAN NADALLO/NEWSWATCH PLUS: Hi sir, good morning po. Sir, just a follow-up doon sa nabanggit na ninyo kanina na you are looking at, as way back as 2016 and may rewards system. Sir, na-mention na rin ito before sa Quad Comm hearings, is the DILG and DOJ, parang likely to believe na mayroon nga pong reward system noong panahon ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte?

DILG SEC. REMULLA:  I think it was made very clear during the Quad Comm by the PCSO Chair Garma that there was a reward system, that there was a corresponding value to every seizure and arrest and killing corresponding to the number of grams of kilograms accompanying the suspect. So we have to look back further into that on the mechanisms that they used.

TRISTAN NADALLO/NEWSWATCH PLUS: Sinabi po kasi grand conspiracy, mayroon pa bang ibang officials higher than the police officials that you are also looking at?

DILG SEC. REMULLA:  Not yet. We are only concentrated on the police officials, but the (unclear) investigation does not preclude anybody; everybody is still open.

PCO ASEC. DE VERA: Next question, Tina Maralit.

TINA MARALIT/MLA TIMES: Good morning, Secretary. Sir, doon regarding sa plan to investigate, going as far as far back as 2016, paano po iyong mga opisyal ng PNP na retirado na kung mapapatunayan pong may kinalaman sila doon sa sinasabing grand conspiracy. Iyong mga retirement benefits po ba, babawiin?

DILG SEC. REMULLA:  Let’s not go too far about that ha, iyong penalties.  But as far as DILG is concerned, wala kaming admin capacity to prosecute, as far as DOJ is concerned, then they have the capacity to investigate, to prosecute, to build a full case regarding the involvement of other officials.

PCO ASEC. DE VERA: Next question, Sam Medenilla, Business Mirror.

SAM MEDENILLA/BUSINESS MIRROR: Aside po doon sa involved sa Mayo case. May other pending cases pa po ba involving police drug cases?

NAPOLCOM VCEO BERNABE III: Mayroon po tayong mga involvement sa drug cases, but not as big as this one, mga isolated instances or mga individual police na may illegal acts, but not at the scale, wherein a group of policemen working together to consume the illegal act?

SAM MEDENILLA/BUSINESS MIRROR:  Mga ilan po kaya iyong cases na iyon?

NAPOLCOM VCEO BERNABE III: We don’t have the figure with us now, but we can provide you later on.

PCO ASEC. DE VERA: Do you have more questions from the media? Alvin Baltazar, Radyo Pilipinas.

ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Secretary, ihabol ko na lang po. Ito bang mga sangkot na officers, police officials, nag-undergo ng lifestyle check?

DILG SEC. REMULLA:  I think, after the criminal proceedings, criminal charges will be filed, then AMLC will be enjoined to investigate them also, after criminal cases have been filed and established.

ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: And then will include lifestyle check, sir?

DILG SEC. REMULLA:  That will include their AMLC accounts, which leads to their lifestyle checks

PCO ASEC. DE VERA: Do you have more questions from the media? Anna Bajo, GMA News online.

ANNA BAJO/GMA NEWS ONLINE: Good morning po. Other matter lang po, kay Usec. Vazquez. Baka may update na po sa investigation ng NBI doon sa alleged threat ni Vice President Sara Duterte sa First Couple at kay Speaker Romualdez?

DOJ PG FADULLON: Yes, we were informed already that the NBI had finished its investigation, but there is a need to further evaluate it and we are sending prosecutors over to look at the evidence and evaluate the evidence that is in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Depending on the outcome, we will be able to make a recommendation whether to have it considered filed already before the department and/or to return it to the NBI if there’s a need to build up the case further and to add to the evidence that they have. But this is subject to evaluation. The NBI and the DOJ are working closely together, our prosecutors to ascertain the evidence that is on hand.

DOJ USEC. VASQUEZ: That’s part of the case build up, the evaluation stage that was referred to by PG Richard. Once the evaluation is confirmed to be enough to warrant preliminary investigation, that’s the time that the preliminary investigation proper would be initiated.

ANNA BAJO/ GMA NEWS ONLINE: Thank you, sir.

PCO ASEC. DE VERA: Christian Yosores.

CHRISTIAN YOSORES/ TELERADYO 630 DWPM: Good morning, sir. Other matters din po tungkol sa DOJ, kung may result na po iyong ginawang investigation ng task force on EJK? Natapos na po ba iyong 60 days na period?

DOJ USEC. VASQUEZ: Yes, and they are expected to give a periodic report and that’s an ongoing report naman, Christian. So, it didn’t end upon the end of the 6o-day period initially given the task force. And it’s something that will require further coordination with other investigating agencies and committees, QuadComm included, in order for us to have a greater hold of the pieces of evidence needed to initiate preliminary investigation if proper.

CHRISTIAN YOSORES/ TELERADYO 630 DWPM: Pero so far, sir, wala pang nakikitang concrete evidence na puwede nang mag-file sa court against the former President?

DOJ USEC. VASQUEZ: That will be the subject of the case build up.

CHRISTIAN YOSORES/ TELERADYO 630 DWPM: Thank you, sir.

PCO ASEC. DE VERA: Yvan Mayrina, GMA7.

YVAN MAYRINA/ GMA7: May we also get an update, sirs, on the DOJ’s probe on the admissions made by former President Rodrigo Duterte before the QuadComm? It was previously announced that the DOJ investigating those statements as well.

DOJ USEC. VASQUEZ: That’s part of the mandate of the task force that was given 60 days, Ivan. So, they will be submitted to us the report and then we will evaluate if that’s enough to initiate some investigation further.

PCO ASEC. DE VERA: Chona Yu, People’s Journal.

CHONA YU/ PEOPLE’S JOURNAL: Sir, sa DOJ under ng NBI and then DILG under ng PNP, if I remember right noong previous briefing namin dito, hinahanap nila iyong taong sinasabing kinausap ni Vice President Sara to assassinate the President. Any update on that po?

DOJ PG FADULLON: We do not have the exact details yet of the result of the investigation with the NBI. We were just advised last week that they have finished it, so I think that will be part of the things that will looking into and we will send our prosecutors ‘no to find out if they have any information leading to the one who was contacted supposedly by the Vice President to execute the acts.

PCO ASEC. DE VERA: Last question, Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News.

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN NEWS: Sir, can you clarify, ano po iyong mga criminal cases na tinitingnan natin following the re-evaluation of the evidence at hand?

DOJ PG FADULLON: According to these cases that we’re taking up now. Okay, it was mentioned in the report of the DILG and the Napolcom that there are certain personalities ‘no, there were certain personalities that were mentioned. Among whom were not included, they were not included in the charges that were earlier filed. So, this will mean that based on results of the investigation by the Napolcom or by any PNP unit, if any cases referred to the department, we will look into it and look into the involvement of the other personalities. There is nothing we should preclude, the department from amending the information that we have filed already or to file new charges if there are … there are in fact other cases that may be filed as against them.

So, still, I think it would be in connection with the case of bungling; it was still be in connection of the case of planting of evidence. But again, to be more comprehensive about it, we have to look at also the situation or the circumstances surrounding the recovery, the initial recovery of the 990 kilos of drugs ‘no, the source, because I think we have to look further into that. So, it all depends on the evidence that will be submitted to us, we will make the necessary assessment. And if we are convinced that there’s a need to include other personalities, we will do so.

PCO ASEC. DE VERA: Before we end, may we ask Secretary Jonvic Remulla for his closing statement.

DILG SEC. REMULLA: Thank you very much, everyone. This case was originally brought forth to the Napolcom 2022. Inupuan po ng dalawang taon ito. Noong pinalitan po si Commissioner Bernardo, Vice Bernabe to cover and he prosecuted the case with full intent, full intent to uncover the truth. Iyong inuupuan kasi na kaso is justice denied, so ginawa namin, bago na, pinaspasan na namin ito para makita talaga ang katotohanan.

PCO ASEC. DE VERA: Thank you very much, Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Secretary Boying Remulla, PG Fadullon, VCO Bernabe and Usec. Vasquez. And that wraps up our press briefing for this afternoon. Maraming salamat, Malacañang Press Corp., at magandang umaga po.

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