MANILA -- Fifteen of the 29 police officers charged in connection with the alleged mishandling of the controversial 990-kilo drug bust in Tondo, Manila, in 2022 are now under the custody of various Philippine National Police (PNP) units, an official said Monday.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said his unit is currently holding six of the 15 cops, while the others are detained in different PNP units.

"Actually, we already have 15 under custody, including both active and retired officers, ranging from lieutenant colonels to PNCOs, as well as lieutenants. They are all across the board, except for the generals. We are in the process of taking them into custody," Torre told reporters during the sidelines of the CIDG's 72nd founding anniversary at Camp Crame.

Torre expressed confidence that they will soon complete the arrests of all 29 officers wanted by the court, especially since some of them are cooperating with authorities and have expressed a willingness to surrender.

"May nagpapahiwatig na mag-surrender. I believe they will come into their senses and will just surrender to the courts. Siguro nag-iisip pa pero at the end of the day, they have to submit themselves to the court. Commitment namin 'yan na talagang we have to get them as soon as possible together with the other wanted persons," Torre said.

(Some have indicated that they will surrender. I believe they will come to their senses and will eventually surrender to the courts. Maybe they're still thinking about it, but at the end of the day, they have to submit themselves to the court. That is our commitment – we have to get them as soon as possible, along with the other wanted persons.).

Last week, ten of the 29 active and former policemen surrendered. 

READ: 10 cops linked to 'staged' P6.7-billion drug haul surrender

READ: Court dismisses drug case vs. PLtGen. Benjamin Santos

On Saturday, a Manila Regional Trial court dismissed the case against PLtGen. Benjamin Santos Jr., but issued a warrant of arrest without bail for the 29 other cops involved in the "staged" drug bust.

The charges against the cops, including two high ranking generals, for violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 were filed by a panel of prosecutors. The former and current cops' supposed violations include the planting of evidence and the delay and bungling in the prosecution of the drug cases.

The case stemmed from a police operation in October 2022 when PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) operatives arrested an alleged drug pusher in a buy bust, who later led the cops to an establishment in Manila where 990 kilos of shabu were recovered.

The establishment was later found to be owned by PMSgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr., who served as an intelligence officer for the PNP Drug Enforcement Group.

The case became even more controversial due to an alleged attempt by several police officers to save Mayo. -- with reports from Jeff Caparas, Bianca Dava, and Ched Rick Gatchalian, ABS-CBN News