The head of the Philippine National Police- Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) and another ranking officer of the unit have filed a leave of absence in connection with the controversy surrounding arrest of a police sergeant tagged in the 990 kilos of shabu seized in Manila last year.
PNP chief information officer Col. Redrico Maranan said the two ranking PDEG officials were among the nine police officers who were asked by Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos to go on leave pending the result of the investigation on the alleged massive cover-up for Police Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo, Jr.
They were PDEG director Police Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo and Police Col. Julian Olonan head of the PDEG Special Operations Unit in Region 4A.
Abalos accused the two as among those who tried to save Mayo when he was collared for the P6.7 billion seized inside a lending agency that the latter owns in Sta. Cruz, Manila in October last year.
Mayo was already dismissed from the service and is now facing criminal charges.
Also implicated were retired Police Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos, then the number three man of the PNP as the Deputy Chief for Operations; Police Lt. Col. Arnulfo Ibañez, officer-in-chrge of the PDEG-SOU in Metro Manila; Police Lt Col. Harry Lorenzo III, assigned to the Manila Police District, Moriones Station; Police Maj. Michael Angelo Salmingo, deputy chief of the PDEG-SOU in Metro Manila; Police Capt. Jonathan Sosongco, head of the arresting team from the SOU- 4A; Police Capt. Randolph Piñon, chief of the intelligence section of the PDEG SOU 4A; Police Lt. Glen Gonzales, from the Quezon City Police District; Police Lt. Asgrap Amerol, intelligence officer of PDEG.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, both Domingo and Olonan admitted lapses in the arrest of Mayo but said it was part of a “tactical move” to seize more illegal drugs in a warehouse in Pasig City which Mayo claimed to have more than a ton of shabu.
The “tactical move”, according to Domingo, had the blessing of the PNP leadership but was called off over fears that Mayo would be killed.
Olonan, for his part, said their only mistake was when they believed the claim of Mayo that there was a warehouse in Pasig City with more shabu after his arrest in Manila last year.
PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr., in a statement, said they see no problem in the call of Abalos for all the police officials seen in the video to go on leave.
The call, however, no longer covers Santos since he already retired last month.
Abalos earlier warned that those who would not go on leave pending the investigation of the National Police Commission-led probe team he created would be suspended.
Meanwhile, Azurin welcomes the call of Sen. Bong Revilla to conduct Senate inquiry to clarify the circumstances on the alleged attempt to exculpate Mayo from the 6.7 Billion haul last October 2022.
“This is a welcome development to once and for all clear all issues related to the biggest drug accomplishment we had in October last year,” said Azurin.
“The PNP reiterates that it has long been firm and aggressive in its campaign against illegal drugs in the country. To attest to this, a case for violation of Republic Act 9165 is currently pending in court for PMSgt Mayo and his cohort's prosecution,” it added