Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. has asked two police generals and other ranking officers to go on leave within the week or face suspension in connection with the 990 kilos of shabu discovered and seized in Tondo, Manila last October.
The stash, said to be worth P6.7 billion, is considered the largest shabu haul confiscated in the country, according to a 24 Oras report on GMA TV last night.
Asked to take a leave of absence were Police Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos, Police Brig. Gen Narciso Domingo, Police Colonel Julian Olonan, Police Lt. Col. Glenn Gonzales, and ten others.
A quick search online showed that Santos was among 11 senior officers reassigned to different offices in the Philippine National Police last March, as he was posted to the Office of PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.
Domingo, meanwhile, is chief of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group.
Yesterday, Abalos said the authorities discovered that high-ranking police officials tried to cover up the involvement of Police Msgt. Rodolfo Mayo — a member of the PNP DEG.
He presented to the media CCTV footage, which showed how Mayo was arrested and later released.
Azurin confirmed last October that two high-ranking PNP officials were being investigated for their involvement in the shabu haul, but did not reveal their names.
“They are on floating status. But this is unfair to them because their names are being dragged into this although there are no sufficient pieces of evidence so far,” Azurin told reporters then.
“These officers have careers, they worked hard for their careers and that is why we are very careful, we are not mentioning any names,” he added.
The generals’ names surfaced over their alleged links to Mayo, the police sergeant who owns the lending agency where 990 kilos of shabu were seized on Oct. 8.
Last week, Abalos assured the public that those responsible for sneaking the record shabu haul into the country would be identified and punished.
In a press briefing at the Pasay City Hall on April 5, the DILG chief said he believes many ranking police officials were involved in the case.
“This is considered one of the biggest drug hauls. What is important is we pinpoint the mastermind, but I am very disappointed. There are many police officers involved here and some are in high positions. I cannot just let this pass. I want them removed,” Abalos said.
He said he was also not happy with the handling of the case as only the suspect, Mayo, was dismissed from the service.
“In the next days, I would make an announcement and heads will roll. I expect that they (the police) take a leave pending investigation. If not, they would be suspended. We guarantee that we have an unbiased and sound piece of evidence. I assure you that the National Police Commission will do things right to find justice,” he added.
Abalos said he wrote to PNP chief Azurin last Feb. 20 asking him for updates on the case, such as the result of the fact-finding investigation, proceedings being initiated on the two police officers who allegedly attempted to withhold 42 kg. from the yielded 990 kg. of shabu, and the disposition of the confiscated illegal drugs.
A month after, Abalos sent another letter to Napolcom vice chairperson Alberto Bernardo after learning that three meetings held with the PNP regarding updates on the case were all inconclusive.
He then ordered Napolcom to conduct a fact-finding inquiry into the actions undertaken by the Special Task Force as part of its mandate to investigate police anomalies and irregularities.
Abalos, meanwhile, assured that the Napolcom fact-finding probe would be orderly and unbiased.
“I cannot let this pass. Let’s deal with this once and for all. Remove who needs to be removed. We will strike them, don’t worry. This is drugs, this is no joke. We are putting the lives of people at stake here,” he noted.
On March 26, the PNP and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) destroyed the 990 kilos of shabu in Trece Martires City, Cavite.
The contraband was seized from Mayo and another suspect, Ney Atadero, in an operation in Manila in October last year.
Mayo was dismissed from the service effective March 21 for three counts of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer, while Atadero was charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.