Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. has identified the Philippine National Police (PNP) officers who were seen in video footage of a drug raid in Manila last year that culminated in the discovery of 990 kilos of shabu valued at PHP6.7 billion.
During a press briefing Monday night at the DILG office in Quezon City, Abalos showed CCTV evidence from the Oct. 8, 2022, narcotics bust, when officials found 990 kilograms of shabu and jailed Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr. and nine others.
According to Abalos, the CCTV footage revealed some PNP personnel on the scene on the day of the operation.
Iba pang mga opisyal ng PNP na sangkot sa 990-kilo ng shabu, aalamin ng binuong fact-finding board | via @dzrh5 Val Gonzales (📷: DILG FB)
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) April 11, 2023
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The footage was sent to a fact-finding committee chaired by National Police Commission Vice Chairperson Alberto Bernardo.
He stated that Mayo is the owner of the lending business where the illegal substances were discovered and that he has been fired from the police force and is now facing three counts of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.
The police officers seen in the footage were Police Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr. who was then Deputy Chief PNP for Operations; Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, director of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG); Col. Julian Olonan, chief of PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Special Operations Unit (SOU) Region 4A; Capt. Jonathan Sosongco, head of the PDEG SOU 4A arresting team; Lt. Col. Arnulfo Ibañez, OIC of PDEG SOU National Capital Region (NCR); Maj. Michael Angelo Salmingo, deputy of PDEG SOU NCR; Lt. Col. Glenn Gonzales of 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 Captain Randolph Piñon, chief of PDEG SOU 4A Intelligence Section.
He stated that the request for a leave of absence is intended to preserve the integrity of the inquiry and the evidence.
According to Abalos, 42 police officers grabbed 42 kilos of shabu before inventorying the 990 kilos of illegal substances recovered.
On October 15, 2022, 42 kilograms of stolen shabu were discovered in an abandoned automobile parked along Boni Serrano Avenue in San Juan City near Camp Crame.
This incident caused the PNP to establish SITG 990, a Special Investigation Task Force.
Due to the delayed development of the investigation, Abalos stated that a fact-finding board had been constituted and that the individuals' testimony had been taken.
He stated that based on the evidence, it was determined that there was a "massive attempt to cover up Sgt. Mayo's arrest."
As DILG chief and ex-officio chairperson of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), Abalos stated that he has administrative and operational oversight over the PNP and that "it is incumbent upon us to monitor and look into the progress of the investigation."
According to Abalos, the police officers observed during the buy bust are not the only ones involved in the case.
On March 26, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) destroyed 990 kilograms of shabu with a street value of PHP6.7 billion in Trece Martires City, Cavite province.
Mayo and another suspect, Ney Atadero, were apprehended in an operation in Manila in October.
He was fired on March 21 for three charges of grave misconduct and unfitness for a police officer, while Atadero was accused of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
