Missing narco links
‘Cronus’ goals avoided They (hard drives, documents and ledgers) contained all their transactions — who are on the take and how much
Vital targets of Case Operation Plan (Coplan) “Cronus” that could have struck at the heart of the illegal drugs trade emanating from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) were not among those declared confiscated during the raid led by former Justice secretary and now detained Sen. Leila de Lima in 2014.
The missing items were computer hard drives, document files and ledgers that could have led government authorities to key personalities and information in fighting the illegal drugs trade in and out of the NBP.
Incumbent Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who authored the Coplan “Cronus” as then director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said the items were among his primary targets in mapping out “Cronus” starting May 2014.
Magalong said the items were vital in getting to the bottom of the drug menace.
“They (hard drives, documents and ledgers) contained all their transactions — who are on the take and how much,” Magalong told the Daily Tribune in a text message.
“Who are their contacts? How much money they have in the banks? Who owes them and the list of their deliveries,” he added.
Not in inventory
During a recent Senate hearing, the former CIDG chief noted that the important items were not in the inventory of confiscated items during the 15 December 2014 raid at the NBP led by De Lima.
Magalong said “Cronus” was designed to launch simultaneous raids inside NBP amid reports of the proliferation of illegal drugs and other illegal activities inside the Maximum Security Compound.
“Cronus” was a product of discreet meetings among top officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
(PDEA) and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Ironically, Magalong who proposed Coplan “Cronus” to De Lima was dropped from the actual raid.
Instead, De Lima brought along operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the National Capital Region Police Office led by then director Marcelo Garbo Jr. and the NBP led by director Franklin Jesus Bucayu.
Intentionally lost
“They (raiding teams) did not find other targets which we knew where they were being kept. We have a very extensive network inside the facility,” Magalong said.
Among the declared seized items were P2 million in cash; luxury watches like Patek Philippe, Cartier and Rolex; Jacuzzis with sauna; air conditioning and flat screen television units; shabu and drug paraphernalia, firearms and bladed weapons; mobile phones and sex dolls.
There were no documents or ledgers and other files that contained what Magalong mentioned were declared.
Individual dwellings or kubols of high-profile inmates were dismantled.
Sen. Richard Gordon has directed the NBI to produce before the next Senate inquiry into the Bureau of Corrections mess the complete inventory of the raid.
Cops under DU30 watch
Likewise, President Rodrigo Duterte is monitoring cops named by Magalong as allegedly involved in drug recycling, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said.
In a radio interview, Go said the President is thinking of possible sanctions to those tagged as law enforcers who were recycling seized drugs.
“That was monitored by the President. He monitored this person who is involved. First, the President does not trust (him) anymore and secondly, he will make him accountable. He is already thinking of it,” Go said.
Last Thursday, Magalong revealed that during his time, there was a rogue group in CIDG that is behind the “Agaw Bato” scheme, where they recycle drugs seized during police operations.
The former CIDG chief asked for an executive session from Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Sen. Richard Gordon and other senators to disclose the names of the cops involved in the said scheme.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the former CIDG chief named an active high-ranking PNP official who was allegedly protecting his subordinates.
Lord of ninjas
“There is a high-ranking active police official whose fault was not to punish and appeared to be protecting his men who were involved in the drug trade,” Drilon said.
With the revelation, Go said the President will still give out rewards to those who will name these so-called “ninja cops,” especially now that the administration is supporting the uniformed personnel.
“I already mentioned it to the President and he said that he will continue his reward (to those who will surrender) these ninja cops. If they are dead, P1 million. If they are alive, they can only get half,” he said.
“I am a witness to that. If the police or military personnel face a case, President Duterte will support him, but if you are involved in these anomalies and you are a criminal, the President said ‘if you are a ninja cop, your head (is worth) P1 million,’” Go added.
The neophyte senator insisted that the administration’s campaign against war and corruption is still at work citing the President’s previous command to reinstate rogue police officers in Jolo, Sulu.
Outrageous practice
Magalong who proposed Coplan “Cronus” to De Lima was dropped from the actual raid.
“When he sat (as President), many were thrown and were assigned to Jolo but they did not report (to work) anymore. His campaign will still continue. What has been happening was already there since the past administration, but it is just hard to name names. It was revealed to us with confidentiality. The modus that they are doing is already known and the President is outraged,” Go said.
Last week, PDEA director-general Aaron Aquino also admitted that there were law enforcement agencies who were still committing the so-called drug recycling in the country.
Based on his information from PDEA operatives, Aquino said these law enforcers keep a portion of seized drugs for “future operations or the worst of it is, they sell the drugs.”