Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers on Friday accused several policemen of “covering up” what really transpired during the Oct. 8, 2022 drug bust in Tondo, Manila that yielded nearly a ton of shabu worth P6.7 billion.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos had said the drugs seized in the October 2022 operation were “probably the biggest drug haul in the history of the Philippines.”
Barbers, chairperson of the House panel on dangerous drugs, cited the supposed “inconsistencies” and conflicting statements of police officers present in the operation.
“There were inconsistencies in the statement of the police. It was made clear to us that it seems they were covering up for someone,” he told TeleRadyo.
He noted some cops’ “attempt” to exonerate former Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr.
Barbers said part of the Oct. 2022 drug haul was seized from Mayo.
The lawmaker added: “Based on the testimonies and affidavits I read and heard, it seems there was an attempt to cover up the arrest of Sgt. Mayo. How did he come to have a ton of shabu in his office? That is the big question. He has been with the drug enforcement group for a long time and he was involved in a majority of the arrest.”
Barbers said his panel would conduct another hearing to uncover the irregularities in the drug bust.
On Thursday, the PNP said investigation on the issue was still ongoing, while officers involved in the operation were being subjected to lifestyle check.
Meanwhile, newly installed PNP chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. has ordered regional directors to conduct operations against rogue cops “at the lower level.”
In a radio interview, Acorda said there were just “a few” rogue cops in the police force, citing his experience as a counterintelligence agent.
Acorda said: “I intend to conduct operations against those who are on the list and do not want to change their ways. That’s what I urged the regional directors to do during our recent meeting — that command responsibility in cleansing every level of police ranks should be followed.”
For high-ranking police officers, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos on January 4 asked police generals and full colonels to submit their courtesy resignations as part of the government’s efforts to rid the PNP of officers involved in the illegal drug trade.
Abalos said this was “the only way to make a fresh start” in the PNP.
On April 20, the five-man advisory group completed the review on the courtesy resignations of 953 senior police officers.
On April 25, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said the advisory group recommended 36 high-ranking police officials for further evaluation by the National Police Commission.
She added that the advisory group cleared the remaining 917 senior police officials, who also submitted their courtesy resignations, from any involvement in illegal drugs.
The final report of the five-member body was endorsed to NAPOLCOM chairperson Abalos for final review. Then the final report will be presented to President Ferdinand Marcos for approval.
In related developments, Acorda vowed the police force would only name high-ranking police officials supposedly linked to illegal drugs once cases have been filed, to supposedly prevent influencing public opinion.
Meanwhile, a party-list congressman said Friday Congress remained a strong ally of PNP.
Bicol Saro Partylist Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan gave the assurance as several members of PNP have come under fire from members of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Public Order and Safety due to their conflicting statements during a hearing on the alleged illegal buy-bust operation and bogus arrests made in Antipolo City.
But Yamsuan reminded the PNP officers present during the hearing they could not expect Congress to support them if they were found to have committed any wrongdoing.
The committee chaired by Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez conducted the hearing on April 27, 2023 to look into the alleged illegal drug buy-bust operations and bogus arrests done by members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit-4A in Antipolo City.
The congressional probe stemmed from House Resolution 776 filed by Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, a retired police two-star general, who received several complaints about the PNP’s alleged unlawful activities in implementing the campaign against illegal drugs.