INTERIOR Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. yesterday vowed to uncover the mastermind behind the “cover-up” on the controversial seizure of 990 kilos of shabu worth P6.7 billion in Manila last year, adding their investigation will continue to determine the group behind the shipment.
“As far as we are concerned, this type of investigation will always continue,” Abalos, also the chairman of the National Police Commission (Napolcom), said in a television interview.
Last Tuesday, Abalos announced the filing of criminal charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against 50 policemen, including two generals, who allegedly tried to “cover up” the operation.
Forty-eight of the policemen are also facing administrative charges before the Napolcom. Abalos said a resolution on the case might be issued by the commission in 15 days.
The charges were filed after an investigation jointly conducted by a Napolcom fact-finding body and the PNP’s Special Investigation Task Group 990.
Abalos expressed the belief that dismissed Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo was the leader of the group behind the 990 kilos of shabu seized from Mayo’s lending firm in Manila on October 8 last year.
Closed-circuit television footage showed Mayo, then assigned with the PNP Drug Enforcement Group, in handcuffs during the raid but he was later freed. The PNP said Mayo was arrested a day later, also in Manila, with two kilos of shabu.
Mayo and the lending firm’s caretaker, Ney Atadero, were the only ones charged over the seizure of the 990 kilos of shabu, one of the country’s largest drug hauls.
“I don’t want this to stop at Mayo. I’m frustrated we are yet to get the leader. This is a large (haul) and we should get the mastermind. With this kind of haul, it’s not only Mayo (who is involved)” said Abalos.
He said a police general once told him they might be up against a “very powerful syndicate.”
“And these are very evil persons, they will hurt you where it would hurt you most. They will hurt (your) family, children,” Abalos added.
He said the filing of charges against the 50 policemen showed the determination of the government to cleanse the PNP of erring members.
The DILG chief assured the public that “we are doing our job here right now and the filing of charges shows our intention to cleanse (the PNP).
“And we are not yet finished. We are going to do more, there will be more,” said Abalos.
The officials charged before the Ombudsman includes the former PNP deputy chief for operations, Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr., erstwhile PDEG chief Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, and former PDEG-Calabarzon Special Operations Unit chief Col. Julian Olonan.
Domingo told reporters he was saddened by the charges against him and the rest, noting they were the ones who seized the shabu.
“Unfortunately, they are suspecting us to be involved with the syndicate. But then again, I welcome this development. At least, we can prove in the proper forum that we are not involved,” said Domingo.
“We have administrative charges before the Napolcom and we have criminal charges before the Ombudsman. We’ll just pray we can prove our innocence here,” added Domingo.
Domingo said he hopes the cases will be resolved immediately, noting that he is due to retire from the service in May next year.
Olonan said he respects the decision of Napolcom and the PNP to file charges against him and the rest.
“We’re just going to answer them (charges),” he said. “We believe in the process and we are glad we’re given the time (to answer the charges), that we’re being given due process.”
