Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos cited this security camera footage in questioning official reports about an October 2022 raid in Manila that led to the discovery of 990 kilos of crystal meth (“shabu”). The encircled figures are those of police officers whom he wanted investigated as he suspected a cover-up. —Photo from DILG
MANILA, Philippines — Former Police Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr., whose arrest in October last year led to the confiscation of almost a ton of suspected “shabu” worth an estimated P6.7 billion on Tuesday refused to answer senators’ questions during Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs hearing.
Mayo invoked his right to remain silent after he was asked if he is depositing money to bank accounts of his higher ups; if there are other people involved in the drug trade and the identity of the suspect first arrested during the operation on Oct. 8, 2022, if he is willing to become a state witness and if he believes that he is innocent.
This irked Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who asked him: “Why do you always invoke your right [to remain silent]?
Mayo responded: “I am already facing criminal charges, your honor.”
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who was likewise chided Mayo for his evasive answers.
“Sige, kargahin mo. Kargahin mo ang buong kasalanan na ito. Yung mga kasamahan mo ngayon, yung mga tao sa taas mo, tawa nang tawa ngayon.
(Go ahead, take all the blame. Your cohorts, your higher ups are just laughing at you now.)
“Sige, aminin mo lahat yan, nabobola ka lang nila sinabihan ka lang na: ‘Just remain silent, madami tayong parang na-imbak ngayon, kayang kaya namin suportahan ang pamilya mo habang nakakulong ka at pagkatapos makakalabas ka din. Kaya namin magbayad sa fiscal, kaya namin magbayad sa judge para makalusot ka sa kaso mo.’
(Go ahead, admit it all. They are just fooling you when they tell you: “Just remain silent, we have stored a lot, we can support your family while you’re in jail. You will eventually be free. We can pay for the fiscal and judges so that you will be cleared.)
Despite his silence, Dela Rosa said the committee will never be convinced that Mayo worked on his own.
“Baka yan ang pambobola na binigay sayo ng kasamahan mo. ‘Tiisin mo lang yan. Angkinin mo lang lahat yan. Pero the whole world doesn’t believe in you. Alam namin na isang toneladang shabu, hindi kayang itago, i-maintain ng isang master sergeant lamang. You cannot fool me. You cannot fool this committee.
(Maybe that’s what your cohorts are telling you. Just go ahead, pin all the blame on yourself. But the whole world doesn’t believe in you. We know that a ton of shabu could not be hidden by a mere master sergeant.)
Mayo also attended the House of Representatives Committee on Dangerous Drugs hearing, where he also invoked his right to remain silent.
Mayo won’t answer questions at hearing, says charges ‘made up’
Meanwhile, during the Senate hearing, Capt. Jonathan Sosongco, head of the PNP’s Drug Enforcement Unit-Special Operations Unit, was also cited for contempt for not divulging the contact information of the informant which led to the shabu haul.
Forty-nine police officers were found liable for the alleged cover-up of irregularities committed by anti-drug operatives of the PNP in connection with the haul.