Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers says the Philippine National Police-Special Investigation Task Group (PNP-SITG) is dragging its foot on its investigation on alleged "ninja cop" Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr., and he wants to know why.

“Why is it that said PNP-SITG is foot-dragging or dilly-dallying on their probe?" Barbers, chairman of House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, said in a statement Sunday, March 26.

"Are they covering up for something we don’t know or are they still trying to make up a different script about his arrest and involvement in 'shabu' stockpiling and possibly for recycling?” he further wondered.

Mayo, a PNP intelligence officer, was arrested and implicated in the storage of nearly a ton of shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride worth P6.7 billion in October last year in Manila.

Barbers said that while Mayo has a right to due process of the law, he has not heard an update from the PNP about the status of his administrative or criminal cases except saying “the case is still under investigation”.

But it's been six months since the incident, the Mindanaoan noted.

“Alam naman natin na hindi makakagalaw si Mayo mag-isa sa kanyang illegal na gawain. Gusto rin natin malaman kung ang nakumpiskang shabu sa Tondo ay mga naipon sa past anti-drug operations o ang mga ito’y bagong delivery from China (We know that Mayo couldn't have acted alone in his illegal deeds. We also want to know if the confiscated shabu from Tondo was a cache from past anti-drug operations or a brand new delivery from China),” he said.

“Sgt. Mayo, for all we know, is an owner of a lending institution catering to police officers. This, despite receiving a monthly salary of only P34,079.00. Is he the sole proprietor of his business which many believe is a convenient cover for his illegal drug activities?” Barbers further asked.

Another mystery is how the controversial Mayo was able to get back to his post in the PNP-Drug Enforcement Group (DEG).

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa had revealed that Mayo was among the "ninja cops" or police officers involved in the illegal drug trade that he reassigned to Mindanao in 2016 when he was PNP chief.

According to PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., a ranking police official, whom he did not identify had a hand in bringing Mayo back to PNP-DEG. He said the official is now under investigation.