THE latest criminal scandal involving high-ranking officers of the PNP proves that the climate of criminal impunity continues unabated in the police force.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. is determined to hold criminally liable the officers involved in the “massive cover-up” of the arrest of Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. and the pilferage of a big amount of shabu from the stash found in a trading firm in Manila last year.
At least two generals are reportedly involved — Brig. Gen. Benjamin Domingo, the former chief of the PNP’s Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG), who has been relieved and Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos.
Santos was among the PNP officials who witnessed the arrest of Mayo, an anti-narcotics agent who owns the lending company where the illegal drugs were seized.
According to Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz, director of the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, the 990 kilograms of shabu seized in a raid in October last year “were all that was left after the alleged pilferage by some operatives of the PNP’s Drug Enforcement Group (DEG).”
Cruz, who heads the Special Investigation Task Group probing the raid, said that based on CCTV video of luggage being moved and carried into another building right after the arrest of Mayo, the pilfered drugs was more than 42 kilos that was surrendered shortly by two non-commissioned officers.
‘It would take more than reorganizing the PDEG and retraining its personnel, as Cruz has strongly recommended, to ensure reform or renewal among its ranks.’
It would take more than reorganizing the PDEG and retraining its personnel, as Cruz has strongly recommended, to ensure reform or renewal among its ranks.
PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. should address speculations that more police officers are engaged in the operation of illegal drugs and its cover-up if we go by the frequent number of drug arrests and seizures that come out in the news every other day.
There is little doubt that drug traffickers and dealers have become more emboldened, which is most likely due to police complicity or protection.
As I have mentioned here before, criminal activities in the PNP would persist if the extra-judicial killings in the drug war are not reinvestigated and police and vigilante suspects are not brought to justice.
It seems that high-ranking police officers, as exhibited in this very recent case, take advantage of their rank, authority and resources to pursue illegal acts, especially with illegal drugs that spell so much big money.
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The paradox of the present time: “We live in times when the rich have more rooms than children and the poor have more children than rooms. We live in times when Smart Phones bring us closer to those who are far, but distance us from those who are close. We live in times where a single parent can look after 10 children, but 10 children can’t look after an aging parent. We live in times where our contact list is huge, but our relationships are poor. We live in times where our possessions are more, but our contentment is less. We live in times when many know the price of everything, but not the value of most things. We live in times when people get power, but can’t empower others. We live in times when we see many humans, but not enough humanity. May Almighty God enable us all to see beyond the ordinary.” (Anonymous)
