10 ranking cops told: Go on leave over P6.7 billion shabu

MANILA, Philippines — Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos yesterday ordered 10 ranking officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to take a leave of absence or face suspension amid their alleged involvement in the cover-up on P6.7 billion worth of shabu seized from now-dismissed police master sergeant Rodolfo Mayo in 2022.

At a press conference last night, Abalos said those ordered to vacate their posts were Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr., former PNP deputy chief for Operations; Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, director, PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG); Col. Julian Olonan, chief, PDEG SOU 4A; Capt. Jonathan Sosongco, head of Arrest Team PDEG SOU 4A0; Lt.Col Arnjulfo Ibañez, OIC, PDEG SOU NCR;

Maj. Michel Angelo Salmingo, deputy chief, PDEH SOU (NCR); Lt. Col. Glenn Gonzales, QC Police District; Lt. Ashrap Amerol, intelligence officer, PDEG Intelligence and Foreign Liaison; Lt. Col Harry Lorenzo III, Manila PD Moriones station commander and Capt. Randolph Piñon, chief, Intelligence Section PDEG SOU 4A.

Abalos also announced the creation of a fact-finding team led by National Police Commission (Napolcom) vice chairman Alberto Bernardo to probe the extent of the conspiracy involving the 990 kilos of shabu confiscated during an anti-drug operation on Oct. 8, 2022.

“The testimonies of several personalities and pieces of evidence, including tapes, are now in the possession of the board. It shows there is indeed a massive attempt to cover up the arrest of Sgt. Mayo,” Abalos said.

Abalos said that the 10 PNP officers were caught in the video now in possession of the fact-finding committee.

“This (video) would collaborate the testimonial evidence which supposedly transpired during Oct. 8, 2022 anti-drug operation. At a glance, the video would show different scenarios of what transpired which was different from the report filed by the PNP, including the documents attached to the case and the testimonies provided by the PNP officers during the congressional hearings in March 2023,” he added.

Abalos also criticized the PNP leadership on the slow progress of the investigation.

“On March 23, during the en banc Napolcom meeting involving the Mayo case, the head of Special Task Force 990 admitted before the members (that) the investigation only covered the missing 42 kilos of shabu but not the 990 kilos which is more important,” he said.