Special panel to assess new raps in 2022 Manila 'shabu' raid — DOJ

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 27) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) said a special panel of experienced prosecutors was formed to assess the additional charges and pieces of evidence on the case of the controversial 2022 Manila drug raid.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the DOJ said the panel was formed following the National Prosecution Service and the Philippine National Police's (PNP) case conference on Dec. 15, which focused on the operation that led to the seizure of 990 kilograms of «shabu» in October 2022.

The department said the conference tackled the additional complaint which emerged after a probe «into potential anomalies and irregularities committed by certain individuals during the operation.»

«In response to this additional complaint, the DOJ has constituted a panel of experienced prosecutors. This panel's mandate is to rigorously evaluate the additional complaint and associated evidence to determine the presence of all necessary elements to substantiate the crime charged,» the DOJ said.

The department said the «voluminous evidence» is undergoing «detailed examination.»

The shabu raid in October last year seized drugs with an estimated value of P6.7 billion after a series of anti-drug operations in Manila.

The operation was hounded by controversy when reports claimed that police officers pilfered around 42 kilos of shabu from the drugs confiscated from a dismissed police officer.

Criminal and administrative charges were recommended against 49 PNP officials and personnel for the alleged cover-up of the incident.

Former Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group chief Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo in April this year claimed that drug syndicates have «succeeded» in putting the blame on law enforcers linked to the 990-kilo shabu haul.