NP chief disputes attempts to conceal the P6.7-B shabu mess
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos was urged to "take a second look" at those who might be giving him false information and concentrate on the drug war by Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. of the Philippine National Police.
The arrest of a police M/Sgt who had been fired from his position was "definitely" not a cover-up, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP). 900 kilograms of shabu, worth P6.7 billion, were found in October and were connected to Rodolfo Mayo last year.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos warned 10 senior police officers to take leave or risk being fired last week after alleging there had been a "massive cover-up" in Mayo's arrest.
PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said there was no attempt to cover up for Mayo, and ordered the creation of the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) 990 to uncover the circumstances of the alleged pilferage of 42 kilos of 900 kilos of seized shabu. Azurin also urged Abalos to take a second look at people who may be feeding him misinformation and focus on the drug war.
He also urged Abalos to take a second look at people who may be blindsiding him and some officials of the government in the anti-drug campaign. Former PNP-Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Director Narciso Domingo has been vouched for and is confident of his integrity. He also slammed the move to name police officials involved in the case, saying it is unfair.
The report of the SITG's recommending the filing of charges against 49 policemen involved in the missing 42 kilos of shabu was delayed, and there were many lapses in the operation of the PNP.
Former PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr. failed to answer many issues during his interview. Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said the DILG should investigate reports that cops in the P6.7 billion worth of shabu haul may be guilty of "double cover-up and double recycling".
Documents and video footage showed that two officers from the PNP-DEG Special Operations Unit 4a were captured loading two black bags containing shabu into a white car. The five-man advisory group formed to screen the ranking PNP officers has submitted their recommendations to the National Police Commission, with some ranking officials recommended to be cleared and some still being deliberated.
The PNP should require those involved in anti-drug operations to use body-worn cameras, as failure to comply could make evidence seized in court inadmissible. The DILG-PBAAbalos signed an MOA with the Philippine Basketball Association to support the government's campaign against illegal drugs.