PNP tells Abalos over drug cover-up claims: Beware of people giving wrong info

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. should beware of the people who could have fed him wrong information about the allegations hurled against the Philippine National Police (PNP), its chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said on Monday.

Azurin made the reminder in light of Abalos’ allegation that there was a “massive attempt to cover up” the arrest of dismissed Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo due to drug-related charges in 2022.

READ: DILG chief unveils ‘massive attempt to cover up’ dismissed cop Mayo’s arrest

“So I now appeal to our SILG (Secretary of Interior and Local Government), let us focus on the real enemy. Let me also call the kind attention of our SILG, the Honorable Benjamin Abalos Jr., to take a second look [at] who may be feeding him wrong information to cast doubt on the PNP organization under his authority,” Azurin said in a press conference in Camp Crame.

“While I join the good SILG in the fight against erring personnel in the police force, let us focus on the real enemy here — which is the shabu and the drug syndicates,” he added.

The top cop also categorically denied the allegations of cover-up on Mayo’s involvement.

“Let me categorically say; there is no attempt to cover up and exculpate Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo from his involvement in the illegal drug operation,” Azurin stressed.

On Oct. 8, 2022, Mayo was apprehended during a Tondo, Manila anti-drug raid where 990 kg of P6.7 billion worth of shabu was confiscated from him.

READ: PNP general denies hand in P6.7B ‘shabu’ mess

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