PNP general decries being linked to shabu cover-up

MANILA, Philippines — Saying he was not accorded due process, the former No. 3 man in the Philippine National Police (PNP) cried foul over the move of Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos implicating him in an alleged attempt to cover up the arrest of a rogue anti-narcotics officer involved in 990 kilos of shabu worth P6.7 billion seized in Manila last year.

Breaking his silence over the issue, former PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr. took a swipe at Abalos for naming him on Monday as one of the police officials involved in an alleged attempt to shield former master sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. from prosecution.

“The name that I built for more than 32 years was smeared, all due to a simple appearance in a CCTV footage that has no context or even weight in the proper fora,” Santos said Friday in a news conference with his lawyer, Winston Ginez, at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Santos stressed he was not involved in a plot to hide Mayo’s involvement in illegal drugs, stressing the video which Abalos showed did not paint a picture of his participation during the operation in Tondo on Oct. 8, 2022.

“I strongly deny any involvement in whatever impropriety or infraction of law or standard operating procedures if there are any in the alleged cover-up in the buy-bust operation,” he said.

Santos said he was also confused with Abalos’ call for him to file a leave of absence when he has been on floating status for several months after he was relieved as deputy chief for operations of the PNP.

Had Abalos given him due process, Santos said he would have explained to the Department of the Interior and Local Government chief that he was never involved in any irregularity in the police operation.

Santos said he was shocked after he saw Abalos at a press conference on Monday naming him as one of the 10 police officials he wanted to go on leave of absence.

Santos recalled he was celebrating his birthday on Oct. 8 when he received a call from PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. ordering him to go to Manila to check on the seizure of a large cache of illegal drugs in a warehouse.

The buy-bust operation was already consummated when he arrived at the scene, according to Santos. He then held a meeting with the police officers who were present and gave them guidance to ensure the requirements for inquest, including the chain of custody in the inventory of the prohibited narcotics.

He also inspected the area to ensure proper documentation was made to build a strong case in court. While inspecting a vault, Santos said he saw Mayo’s identification card. He then asked police officials who were present to find the former anti-narcotics officer and arrest him.

He claimed the police officials present, including ex-PNP Drug Enforcement Group director Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, did not inform him that Mayo was already in custody and being kept in a vehicle.

Santos added that he was unaware of any move to uncuff the former drug enforcement officer and other nitty-gritty details of the operation.

“Let me be clear. I don’t have any decision in their operation because I only went there in behalf of the Chief PNP to congratulate our team,” he said.