When the Enforcers Become the Criminals: The Santos Surrender and the PNP’s Crisis of Integrity

By Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — February 12, 2025

A high-ranking police general has surrendered—not in a heroic act of accountability, but as a suspect in a staged anti-drug operation. For Filipinos, this isn’t just another corruption scandal; it’s confirmation of a long-standing fear: the very enforcers of the law may be its worst violators.

Police Lieutenant General Benjamin Santos Jr.’s surrender is not an isolated event. It is a symptom of the deeply embedded corruption, impunity, and institutional decay within the Philippine National Police (PNP). His alleged role in the 2022 Mayo drug fiasco—where officers staged a fake operation to cover up a botched drug bust—exposes a much larger crisis: a law enforcement agency that, rather than eradicating the drug trade, appears to be complicit in its survival.

The Mayo Drug Fiasco: A Microcosm of Institutional Failure

To understand the gravity of Santos’ surrender, we must revisit the 2022 Mayo drug fiasco. Authorities seized 990 kilograms of shabu, valued at over P6.7 billion, in an operation that was later revealed to be a fabrication. Officers allegedly planted evidence and deliberately mishandled the case—actions that suggest a coordinated cover-up rather than mere incompetence.

The implications are staggering. If senior officers, including a former PNP deputy chief for operations, were involved in manipulating an anti-drug operation, then how many other cases have been quietly buried or twisted to serve ulterior motives? The Duterte-era war on drugs promised to purge the country of narcotics. Instead, it appears to have fueled a parallel economy where law enforcers become kingpins, deciding who gets caught and who walks free.

A Police Force Under Siege: Corruption, Impunity, and Public Distrust

The PNP’s internal corruption is no secret. Over the years, reports of “ninja cops”—police officers recycling confiscated drugs for resale—have surfaced repeatedly. But what makes the Mayo fiasco particularly damning is its scale and the rank of those implicated. If a police lieutenant general—one of the highest-ranking officers in the force—was allegedly complicit, what does that say about the integrity of the entire chain of command?

This case will not only deepen public distrust in the PNP, but it will also cripple future anti-drug efforts. Every time a scandal like this breaks, it sends a clear message to the public: the system is rigged. Why cooperate with a police force that may be as corrupt as the criminals it claims to pursue? Why believe in a justice system that allows generals to post bail while small-time drug users languish in overcrowded jails?

The erosion of trust in law enforcement has real-world consequences. Communities become less likely to report crimes. Witnesses refuse to testify. Criminal syndicates flourish in the shadows of a discredited police force. Without credible and trustworthy enforcers, lawlessness spreads, and the very fabric of governance begins to fray.

The Futility of Current Anti-Corruption Measures

Despite numerous task forces, internal affairs investigations, and high-profile purges, corruption within the PNP persists. Why? Because the existing mechanisms are either too weak, too politicized, or too compromised to enact real change.

The surrender of Santos might seem like a victory for accountability, but it follows a familiar pattern: A few individuals are sacrificed to appease public outrage, while the larger system remains intact. The P200,000 bail posted by Santos is a paltry sum, considering the billions involved in the drug trade. If history is any guide, the case will drag on for years, appeals will be filed, and eventually, the public’s attention will shift elsewhere—allowing the cycle to repeat.

What we need is not another superficial crackdown but a structural overhaul.

Policy Recommendations: Breaking the Cycle

Addressing corruption within the PNP requires a three-pronged approach: internal reform, external oversight, and broader systemic change.

1. Internal Reform: A Housecleaning, Not a Cosmetic Fix

Purge the Ranks: Officers implicated in corruption, regardless of rank, must be permanently removed. The common practice of simply reassigning corrupt officials to another jurisdiction only spreads the rot.
End the “Bata-Bata” System: Nepotism and patronage in promotions allow corrupt officers to rise through the ranks. Implement a transparent, merit-based promotion system.
Financial Transparency: Mandatory lifestyle checks and asset declarations should be rigorously enforced for all officers. Any unexplained wealth should trigger automatic investigations.

2. External Oversight: Power Must Be Checked

Independent Anti-Corruption Body: The PNP cannot police itself. A civilian-led oversight commission, independent from both the police and the executive branch, should have the authority to investigate and prosecute corruption cases.
Whistleblower Protection Program: Fear of retaliation silences honest officers who want to expose corruption. A robust witness protection system is crucial to encourage more insiders to come forward.

3. Broader Systemic Change: Fixing the Root Causes

Judicial Reform: The courts must expedite corruption cases. Delays and legal loopholes allow high-ranking officials to escape justice.
Decentralization of Police Power: Localizing police command structures and increasing community involvement can enhance accountability and responsiveness.
Legislative Action: Congress should strengthen anti-corruption laws with stricter penalties for law enforcers involved in the drug trade.

The Challenge: Reforming an Institution That Resists Change

Real reform will not come easily. The political elite benefits from a police force that can be manipulated for personal and political ends. Politicians rely on law enforcers not only for protection but also for intimidation and vote-rigging. There is little incentive to disrupt a system that serves those in power.

Moreover, the culture of impunity within the PNP is deeply ingrained. Officers have long operated with the belief that loyalty to superiors trumps adherence to the law. Breaking this mindset will require more than just policy changes—it demands a shift in institutional culture.

Conclusion: The Cost of Inaction

Santos’ surrender is a moment of reckoning, but it will mean nothing if it does not lead to systemic reform. The real question is whether this case will be a catalyst for genuine change or just another episode in the long, grim saga of police corruption in the Philippines.

If left unaddressed, the consequences will be dire: a police force that becomes indistinguishable from the criminals it claims to fight, a judiciary that fails to uphold justice, and a society that accepts corruption as an inevitable reality.

The Philippines stands on the edge of a dangerous precipice. Will it reform its police force and restore public trust, or allow corruption to erode what little faith remains? The choice isn’t just for lawmakers—it’s for every Filipino who refuses to accept a future where law enforcers and lawbreakers are indistinguishable.