OPERATIVES of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) seized 990.1 kilos of suspected shabu worth P6.7 billion in an anti-narcotics operation in Tondo, Manila last Saturday afternoon, the second largest drug haul in the country, and arrested three suspected pushers.
One of the suspects turned out to be a PDEG policeman who was caught in possession of two kilos of suspected shabu worth P13.6 million in Quiapo, Manila early morning yesterday.
The buy-bust operation was conducted on Jose Abad Santos St. in Barangay 252, Tondo at around 4:45 p.m. last Saturday, PDEG Director Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo said in a press briefing at Camp Crame yesterday.
A suspected drug dealer, identified as Ney Saligumba Atadero, alias Mario, was arrested in that operation.
During questioning, Atadero told authorities that a large quantity of shabu was being kept at Wealth and Personal Development Lending Inc. in Sta Cruz, Manila. A subsequent search of the company’s premises yielded 990.1 kilos of shabu, said Domingo.
Policemen also found at the lending company evidence incriminating Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr., 50, assigned with the Special Operations Unit of the PDEG-National Capital Region, prompting a follow-up operation.
Mayo is allegedly the owner of the lending company that police said was being used as a front in the distribution of illegal drugs.
Mayo was arrested during a hot pursuit operation at around 2:30 a.m. yesterday on Quezon Bridge in Quiapo, Manila.
Seized from Mayo’s possession were two kilos of shabu worth P13.6 million, a Mitsubishi Montero Sport vehicle, PNP and PDEG identification cards, a 9 mm pistol, and bank books.
Domingo said Atadero also implicated Juden Francisco in the illegal drugs trade. Francisco was arrested in Pasig City in another follow-up operation.
He said Francisco had earlier been arrested in Cebu for a drug-related offense but was later released. He said the Anti-Money Laundering Council and Department of Justice have seized some of the properties of Francisco.
Domingo said Francisco’s seven bodyguards were arrested for obstructions of justice during yesterday’s operation.
They were identified as Lyndon Dionson, Kenneth Dionson, Dindo Cochoco, Ritzel Carballo, Bernardo Yator Corridor, Rodolfo Detalla, and Virgillo Bacus. Narcisco said some of the seven have drug-related records.
With the seizure of the large quantity of drugs, Narcisco said: “We believe we saved lives of many people, including children, from the drug menace.”
Domingo said the operation was conducted in coordination with the Manila Police District and other police units, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Customs.
Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., who led officials in announcing the seizure at Camp Crame yesterday afternoon, said the drug seized was “probably the biggest drug haul in the history of the Philippines.”
The biggest drug haul was actually 1,855 kilos of shabu worth P11 billion that were seized by NBI operatives in Infanfa, Quezon last March. Ten people transporting the illegal drugs were arrested in that operation.
But the haul is the biggest during the young administration of President Marcos Jr., surpassing the 360 kilos of shabu worth P2.4 billion seized by the police in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan last August. A Chinese drug dealer and his three Filipino cohorts were arrested in that operation.
“I salute, I commend the men and the officers of the PNP. Thank you PNP,” said Abalos, adding the operation was part of the Marcos administration’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs.
“This is big, this is (worth) billions and we are arrested a policeman,” Abalos said, adding the arrest of Mayo proves the PNP is not tolerating any of its men if they are involved in illegal drugs.
“As we have said before, there will be no let-up. We don’t care who gets caught or who gets hurt…We will pursue them until the end,” said PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.
Azurin said criminal charges are being readied against the three suspects. He said additional administrative charges will be filed against Mayo, which may lead to his dismissal from the police force.
Azurin also said the PNP will conduct a thorough investigation to determine if Mayo has cohorts in the police force.
“Definitely, that will be part of the investigation that we are going to pursue. We are not going to spare anybody,” said Azurin.
“Definitely, there will be personalities that will be investigated and will be interviewed and we expect Sergeant Mayo to help us reveal, divulge his cohorts, because is part of our cleaning that we are doing in the PNP,” said Azurin.
Azurin said he believes there are other policemen working with Mayo.
“I would believe, I would assume that this is not just in the level of Master Sergeant Mayo. So, we really need to have an intensive investigation and inquiry,” Azurin said.
