SEN. Ramon Revilla Jr. has filed a resolution seeking an investigation on the alleged “massive attempt” of ranking police officials to cover up the arrest of M/Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo on drug related charges last year as disclosed by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos.
“Whereas, instances such as this, in which government personnel involved commit detestable acts that serve to taint the integrity of the agency they serve, must be thwarted. The Senate must therefore step in and ensure that the trust and confidence reposed unto them is not abused,” Revilla said in Senate Resolution No. 564 that he filed last Tuesday.
Revilla was referring to the statement made by Abalos in a press conference last Monday that Mayo could not have acted alone after 990 kilos of shabu worth P6.7 billion were recovered in an operation last October in a property owned by the cop in Manila.
CCTV footage showed that 42 police officers took 42 kilos of the seized shabu before authorities were able to conduct an inventory of the seized drugs.
Among the police officers seen on the CCTV footage were Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr., then the deputy PNP chief for operations; Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, director of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group; Col. Julian Olonan, chief of PDEG Special Operations Unit in Region 4A; Capt. Jonathan Sosongco, head of the PDEG SOU 4A arresting team; Lt. Col. Arnulfo Ibanez, OIC of PDEG SOU-NCR; and Maj. Angelo Salmingo, deputy chief of PDEG SOU-NCR; among others.
“The massive drug bust with strong allegations of attempts to cover up involvement of high-ranking officers indicates that the illegal drug trade may have even infiltrated the PNP’s most specialized units that are tasked to eradicate illegal drugs in the country,” Revilla said in the resolution.
“To make certain accountability and to provide a third person account on the matter, investigation by the appropriate Senate committee is imperative. This will further ensure that those who are responsible for this heinous act will be dealt with to the full extent of law. Furthermore, this seeks to prevent the occurrence of the same lawlessness in the future,” he added.
Domingo, in a press conference at Camp Crame last Tuesday, denied there was a cover-up in the arrest of Mayo, adding that uncuffing and releasing the latter was a “tactical move” approved by PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. and Santos.
Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, said he is wondering what the police officials will gain in freeing Mayo.
“I don’t know what was on their minds. What tactical advantage could they get by uncuffing a suspect of a multi-billion peso drug possession?” Dela Rosa said.
Col. Redrico Maranan, chief of the PNP Public Information Office, said the probe being sought by Revilla “is good opportunity” for the PNP to present what really happened.
“The public has to understand what happened, the circumstances and issues surrounding the seizure of 990 kilos (of shabu). It’s better if the public will understand what really happened,” said Maranan.
Only two Philippine Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) officers have so far tendered their leave of absence in response to the call of Abalos, according to the PNP.
Maranan said the two are PDEG Director Brig. Gen. Narcisco Domingo and Col. Julian Olonan, chief of PDEG Special Operations Unit (SOU) 4-A (Calabarzon).
Last Monday, Abalos urged Maranan, Olonan and eight other police officials to take a leave of absence pending a wider probe on the seizure of 990 kilos of shabu worth P6.7 billion during a raid on a money lending firm in Tondo, Manila last October.
The lending firm is owned by Mayo, who was nabbed during a follow-up operation in Quiapo, Manila a day after the raid. Mayo yielded two kilos of shabu worth P13.6 million.
Another officer Abalos asked to take a leave of absence was former PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr., who is currently assigned with the office of the PNP chief.
The others are Capt. Jonathan Sosongco, a team leader from the PDEG SOU Region 4A; Lt. Col. Arnulfo Ibañez, officer-in-charge of PDEG SOU National Capital Region; Maj. Michael Angelo Salmingo, deputy chief of PDEG SOU NCR; Lt. Col. Glenn Gonzales of the Quezon City Police District; Lt. Ashrap Amerol, intelligence officer of PDEG Intelligence and Foreign Liaison Division; Lt. Col. Harry Lorenzo, Manila Police District Moriones Station Commander; and Capt. Randolph Piñon, chief of PDEG SOU 4A Intelligence Section.
Abalos made the call after disclosing what he said was a “massive attempt” to cover up the arrest of Mayo. — With Victor Reyes
