Co-accused in P6.7 billion drug haul found innocent, freed

THE Regional Trial Court of Pasig City ordered the release of one of the accused in the P6.7 billion drug haul in Manila in 2022 involving officials and officers of the Philippine National Police.

In an order dated September 17, Branch 1257 presiding judge, Hon. Ana Teresa Cornejo-Tomacruz, ordered the release of accused Juden Franscisco, after nearly 3 years in detention.

On October 8, 2022, the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) under PBGen. Narciso Domingo, started conducting a series of anti-narcotics operations in Manila that resulted to the recovery of 990 kilos of shabu worth over P6.7 billion.

Much of the illegal drugs were found inside the ‘Wealth and Personal Development Lending, Inc.’ whose ownership was traced to P/MSgt. Rodolfo Mayor Jr., a bemedalled member of the PDEG Special Operations Unit assigned at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

A follow-up operation that night in Pasig City resulted to the arrest of Francisco and seven others.

They were charged for violation of Section 28 of RA 9165 (misappropriation of confiscated illegal drugs).

This incident of police officers recycling illegal drugs is among the major scandals to rock the Marcos administration in its first year in power.

Francisco’s counsel, Atty. Merito Lovensky Fernandez, laments that precious years were taken away from his client while trying to prove his innocence.

Judge Cornejo-Tomacruz noted that even the prosecution did not object after the reading of the decision thus leading to the closure of the case against Francisco.

It can be recalled that Fernandez is the same lawyer who successfully defended a foreign locator at the Subic Free Port from being framed by a syndicate with the filing of a bogus rape complaint before the Olongapo City Prosecutor’s Office last February (Pinoy Exposé, September 17, 2025).