DILG chief: Ranking police officers involved in drug case of axed ex-intel cop

(Left to right) Southern Police District director Brig. Gen Kirby John Kraft, Philippine National Police OIC Deputy Chief for Administration Lt. Rhodel Sermonia, Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto Rubiano, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., National Capital Region Police Office Director Maj. Gen. Edgar Allan Okubo during a press conference at Pasay City Hall on Wednesday, April 4, 2023. INQUIRER.net / Faith Argosino

MANILA, Philippines — Ranking police officers are allegedly embroiled in the drug case of a dismissed police intelligence agent from whom authorities purportedly confiscated P6.7 billion worth of crystal meth, locally called “shabu,” in October 2022.

Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. revealed on Wednesday that “heads will roll” as he would name names in the coming days.

During a press conference at Pasay City Hall, Abalos cast doubts on former Police Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr.’s sole involvement in what is thought to be one of the most significant drug busts in law enforcement history, suggesting he may not have acted alone.

READ: PNP seizes P6.7 billion worth of shabu; Abalos says it’s ‘biggest drug haul to date’

“Hindi ako naniniwala na si Sgt. Mayo lang ang involved sa kasong ito. It is my personal opinion na maraming involved dito,” he said.

(I do not believe that Sgt. Mayo is the only person involved in this case. It is my personal opinion that many are involved in this.)

According to Abalos, he had ordered Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. last February to report to him the result of the special task force’s investigation of Mayo as well as events linked to the ex-policeman’s supposed attempt to withhold 42 kilograms from the seized 990 kilograms shabu and the disposal of the confiscated illegal substance.

Also, Abalos said that on March 27, he instructed National Police Commission (Napolcom) Vice Chair Alberto Bernardo to conduct a fact-finding inquiry into the same case.

“Kinomand ko si Alberto Bernardo na magkaroon ng fact-finding inquiry sa case tungkol dito sa 990 kilograms na shabu at sinasabi ko sa inyo, hindi ako masaya sa mga ebidensya nakikita ko. Maraming involved na pulis dito matataas ang posisyon,” he said.

(I ordered Alberto Bernardo to have a fact-finding inquiry into this case involving the 990 kilograms of shabu, and I’m telling you, I am not happy with the evidence I’m seeing. There are many police officers in high positions involved here.)

“Sa mga susunod na araw i-announce ko ito and heads will roll. I expect that pending investigation, na sana mag-leave sila dito,. If not, they will be suspended pending investigation,” Abalos warned.

(I will announce it in the coming days, and heads will roll. I expect that they will take leave pending investigation. If not, they will be suspended pending investigation.)

In October 2022, Mayo and Ney Saligumba Atadero were arrested by anti-drug agents in Tondo, Manila.

Mayo, an intelligence officer assigned to the PNP-Drug Enforcement Group’s (PNP-DEG) Special Operations Unit in the National Capital Region, was a decorated policeman. He had no derogatory record before his arrest.

READ: Cop with P6.7-billion ‘shabu’ stash was cited by PNP

Based on PNP records, Mayo’s dismissal order was signed on March 6 and took effect on March 21. He was discharged from service due to three counts of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

Earlier Wednesday, the PNP reported that the seized P6.7 billion worth of shabu was destroyed in Trece Martires City, Cavite province, last March 16.

kga/abc