Barbers, Abalos agree there was a cover-up try on 'ninja cop' Mayo's case
Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (left) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos. (Facebook)
Evidence gathered by the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs support Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos' pronouncements that there was a “massive attempt to cover-up” dismissed Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr.’s arrest on drug-related charges during a raid in October 2022. Thus, said committee chairman, Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers in a statement Tuesday, April 11. “The Committee on Dangerous Drugs has been conducting its own investigation [in aid of legislation] on this incident involving dismissed cop Mayo and other ranking police officers," Barbers said. "We have unearthed evidence, testimonial and documentary as well as authentic CCTV (closed circuit television) footages that revealed the damning truth and the real story behind several incidents that were peddled by some scalawags," he noted. Barbers claimed that there is "much truth of a massive attempt to exonerate Sergeant Mayo and other personalities involved in the raid and/or connected to him". "Soon these pieces of evidence will unravel and reveal the real story," the veteran lawmaker said. "While we cannot prosecute, we are empowered to endorse our findings to all relevant agencies and the proper courts to take action, as well as enact remedial legislations to ensure that the incident will not be repeated,” Barbers said, referring to his panel's probe on "ninja cops", or police officers involved in the resale of confiscated illegal drugs. Meanwhile, the Mindanaoan hailed Abalos for his firmness in cleansing the ranks of Philippine National Police (PNP). "We in the House of Representatives will always support him in every way possible to strengthen our law enforcement units in order to ensure the safety and protection of the people,” Barbers said.