Police Brigadier General Narciso Domingo, the director of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-PDEG), has been relieved of his duties amidst the ongoing investigation into an alleged cover-up linked to the P6.7-billion drug bust.
Domingo personally confirmed his removal from the post in a message to GMA News Online.
“Effective po kahapon. Papalitan na ako ni [Police Brigadier General Antonio Olaguera]. Floating status na ako (It was effective yesterday. Olaguera will replace me. I am now on floating status),” Domingo said.
On Thursday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced that Olaguera had taken over as the new director of the PNP-PDEG following Domingo’s leave of absence.
Olaguera previously served as the director of the PNP Legal Service and belongs to the Philippine National Police Academy Class of 1989, according to the police organization’s statement.
“PNP Chief, Police General Rodolfo S Azurin Jr. named Police Brig. Gen. Faro Antonio Olaguera as the new Director of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG),” the PNP said.
PDEG chief relieved from post amid cover-up allegations
Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos urged Narciso Domingo and nine other police officers to take a leave of absence to allow for an investigation into an alleged cover-up related to a series of operations that resulted in the seizure of P6.7 billion worth of shabu in October of last year.
Abalos initiated an inquiry, led by the National Police Commission, into the illegal drug case of former Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr., which involved confiscating 990 kilograms of shabu. The Napolcom’s fact-finding committee was established due to the sluggish pace of the police investigation into Mayo’s case, according to Abalos.
Domingo refuted any allegations of a cover-up.
“We assure you that that there was no attempted cover-up here, kung ‘yun po ang iniisip ng karamihan na ang PDEG kami ay nag-cover up sa maling pinaggagawa ng mga tao namin,” he said.
Domingo expressed disappointment that their team was implicated in the case when they were doing their job, pointing out that their group had made the largest drug seizure in the history of the police force.
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