Former PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr. after a press briefing at Camp Crame, Quezon City on Friday, April 14, 2023. (Photo by Jean Mangaluz)
MANILA, Philippines — In the wake of an alleged drug bust cover-up, a former Philippine National Police official tagged as one of the culprits has chosen to rise to the occasion and stand ready for the impending Senate investigation into the scandal.
“Actually doon sa [Senate] Committee of Public Order [and Dangerous Drugs] ni Senator Bato [Dela Rosa], inimbitahan po ako doon, kahit wala na po ako sa puwesto — kasama po ako doon sa listahan ng inimbitahan niya — pupunta po ako,” said former PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr. during a radio dzBB interview.
(The Senate Committee of Public Order and Dangerous Drugs headed by Senator Bato Dela Rosa invited me — I am included in the list of those investigated and will attend [the hearing].)
“I am open to any investigation,” Santos added.
Santos also maintained in the DZBB interview that he was there solely after the raid to give the law enforcement officers some much-deserved congratulations as ordered by the PNP chief and to ensure that the seized narcotics were adequately accounted for and the “chain of custody” was meticulously followed.
He swore he was not involved in the operation or part of the raiding party. He emphasized that he merely stood for the chief PNP to commend the operatives.
While conversing with interviewer Joel Reyes Zobel, he mentioned his “mental computation” while inspecting the drugs and was convinced that the seizure must be close to a ton and not the earlier reported 600 kg.
He did not elaborate.
On Tuesday, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., filed Resolution No. 564 on Tuesday, urging the appropriate Senate panel to probe the purported link of top PNP officers in the massive drug haul.
Santos was one of the police officials asked to take a leave by Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. during the probe of the alleged cover-up of law enforcers involved in the trade of P6.7 billion worth of crystal meth or “shabu” that was seized in October 2022.
But Santos, who vehemently denied any involvement in the alleged cover-up, lamented that Abalos had implicated his name by relying on CCTV footage without due process or further consultation.