by Jec Ortiz Sometime on January of 2014, the Criminal Investigation and
Detection Group (CIDG) then headed by Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy
chief for operations Director Benjamin Magalong started to conduct an operational
research and case build-up on groups of PNP Officers and NCOs who were involved
in “Agaw Bato.”
“Agaw Bato” is an illicit activity of police officers under
the guise of a legitimate anti-drug operation. This activity is a pseudo police
operation wherein the operatives will file a pre-operational report with the
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Upon apprehension of their subject
and seized of drugs, they directly proceed to their safehouse. The
subjects were usually Chinese drug traffickers or big-time local drug
traffickers. If they are flagged down along the way by other law enforcement
agencies, they will prove the legitimacy of the operation by presenting the necessary
documents they prepared. And if the trip to the safehouse is without a flaw, they
will divide the drug loot and recycle it to the market, disposing it in “fastbreak”
as what the general coined it.
In some instances of these sham raids, still with
pre-operational requisites, the operatives often misdeclared the real quantity of seized
drugs, divide among them the undeclared portion and recycled it in “fastbreak” plus
have the apprehended drug trafficker, specifically Chinese nationals, ransomed
and replaced by another Chinese national. This is to erase any trace
that there were apprehended drug personalities being released in exchange of
hefty cash.
By March of 2014, Gen.Magalong and his office enforced a
search warrant against the CIDG office of Pampanga and in the course of the
raid, arrested the provincial chief of CIDG along with six civilian agents for
alleged trafficking of illegal drugs previously seized during police operations.
The furtive activity of “Agaw Bato” leads to CIDG’s
discovery of rampant drug trade inside the National Bilibid Prison (NBP), Director Benjamin Magalong
(CIDG Chief) revealed that some PNP operatives were recycling seized illegal drugs
and had links with some inmates.
During the inquiry at the house of representatives, General
Magalong said, “Ang ka deal po nila (referring to the police scalawags) dito ay
mga tao sa loob ng NBP.”
His team presented their findings to then Secretary of Justice
(SOJ) Laila De Lima. He also suggested in carrying out operations at the NBP.
Soon after, a series of high level meetings and discreet planning sessions
followed. These were attended by former SOJ Laila De Lima, Dir.Magalong, former
PDEA Chief Arturo Cacdac, former NBI Director Virgilio Mendez, the Intelligence
Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) and heads of various law
enforcement agencies.
Initially, they
deliberately excluded in the meeting the Bureau of Corrections (BUCOR), the
agency overseeing the NBP. Eventually, they open the plan to BUCOR chief General
Franklin Bucayo. Magalong was surprised when the BUCOR chief allegedly opposed
the planned raid. The CIDG chief even recalls that one time, Bucayo together
with the Presidential Anti-Organize Crime Commission executive director Gen.Reginald
Villasanta visited his office and asked him not to proceed with the operation.
Magalong quoted Bucayo, “Benji, kung pwede wag mong e re-raid ‘yong NBP (Benjie,
do not raid the NBP)”. Bucayo further said to Magalong, “Benji, mamatay ako.
Delikado ako diyan.” Despite Bucayo’s repeated attempts to stop the raid, the
CIDG came up with “Operation Cronus” on October of 2014, which was the basis of
the raid.
They waited for green light from the SOJ to conduct the
raid, but no one is willing to take the responsibility as ground commander.
According to Gen.Magalong, Gen.Bucayo and Gen.Villasanta refused to take the
task, so he offered himself as ground commander to SOJ De Lima. De Lima
answered, “Antay ka lang Benji, antay ka lang.”
The NBP is divided into a quadrant wherein two sides are
composed of the Carcel side (Visayas and Mindanao inmates) and the Presidio
side (Luzon inmates). Carcel’s drug trade was allegedly control by Herbert
Colanggo and the Presidio trade was under Jaybee Sebastian.
The plan was for the CIDG and NCR-PO to raid the Carcel side
whilst the PDEA and NBI to operate at the Presidio side. But what transpire
surprised Magalong and his team: the NBI, NCR-PO and BUCOR raided the NBP on
December of 2014; another team raided the NBP. The CIDG, who conceptualized the
operation, were left behind. On the other hand, the PDEA was informed only on
the day the raid was carried out, with only their K9 as participants.
After the allegedly sham raid, 19 high profile inmates were
transferred to the NBI Detention Center. Magalong later found out that De Lima,
Bucayo, Villasanta and General Marcelino Garbo, then PNP Deputy Director
General were the once who planned the December raid. Garbo was one of the five
generals named earlier by Pres.Rodrigo Duterte as drug protector.
Many speculate that Sebastian was spared from the raid in
order to monopolize the alleged billion peso drug trade at the NBP. The
national penitentiary was the "drug trade center of the Philippines"
during the term of Senator Leila de Lima as secretary of the Department of
Justice (DOJ), an inmate told lawmakers at a hearing on Tuesday as reported by
GMA Network.
De Lima and Bucayo are implicated in the proliferation of illegal
drug trade at the NBP. Cong.Rodolfo Farinas said during the inquiry in the
House of Representatives, “If I look at the affidavits of the witnesses here,
yong timeline nag sasabay eh.”
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre has asked Magalong and
other officers involved in “Operation Cronus” to submit their affidavit as
evidence against De Lima and other erring officials.
In her press conference at the Senate, Sen.Laila De Lima said she needs clearance to divulge details on Jaybee Sebastian’s real status at the National Bilibid Prison (NBP), and why he was not included in the raid “OPLAN GALUGAD”. Since Laila De Lima was the former Secretary of Justice holding the highest position in her department, admitting that she needs clearance simply means that there is someone higher than her involved in the drug fiasco inside the NBP. Who could that be? Who could be her boss? Click here and watch the so-called "clearance" issue.
President Rodrigo Duterte is set to approve various projects such as the North-South Railway Project – South Line; Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit- EDSA; Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project for the Philippine Coast Guard Phase II; Plaridel Bypass Toll Road Project; Metro Manila Flood Management Project; Increase in Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) Area of the Bicol International Airport Project; Change in Scope of the New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project; Modernization of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center; Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital; and the Inclusive Partnerships for Agricultural Competitiveness.
These will be tackled tackled during the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board meeting chaired by President Duterte. The folowing projects were recommended by NEDA Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) for NEDA Board approval.
See how a BRT operates. Press PLAY.
While in the Armed Forces
Modernization, Lt. Cmdr. Marineth Domingo, Philippine Navy's public affairs office head, said
in her message to the PNA, “Acquisition of (more) fast craft will be of great
help to our organization since it will provide additional defense and
interdiction capability to thwart piracy, terrorism, kidnapping and other
dubious activities of lawless elements in the country.”
Around two-dozen fast attack
crafts usually between 50–800 tons and can reach speeds of 25–50 knots are
planned for acquisition.
Similar fast attack craft planned for acquisition. Defence.pk file photo
The procurement of two (2)
92-meter heavy-weather, high endurance Multi-Role Response Vessels (MRRV) for
the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is also now up for the President approval
through NEDA Board.
This will enhance the response
capability of the PCG during search and rescue (SAR) operation, rescue and
salvage work, environmental protection, enforcement of applicable laws,
transport of goods and persons in times of calamities and disaster as quoted in
Tankler.
Furthermore, this will increase
maritime patrolling for a period of 10-15 days and increase coverage range of
not less than 3,000 nautical miles, ideal for the Philippines vast EEZ.
The video below shows how international audience say about the president who is now regarded as the most famous president in the world.
Rodrigo “Rody” Roa Duterte, popularly known as "Digong", is a lawyer and former fiscal who became a mayor of Davao City. He is responsible in transforming Davao into one of the safest and most organize city in the world. He vowed to eradicate drugs and rampant criminality in six months of his term, raising eyebrows especially from his critics. Based on his administration's current achievements, his promise seems doable.
