Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. vouched on Monday, April 17, for the integrity of embattled Police Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo amid the controversy surrounding the confiscation of 990 ki;los of shabu in Manila last year.
Domingo was relieved from his post after Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos named him as possibly involved in what he described as a massive cover-up for Police Master Sgt, Rodolfo Mayo, Jr.
Azurin said Domingo was his personal pick to lead the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) when he assumed the top police post in August last year since he personally knew the former as clean.
“I placed General Domingo at the PDEG because I knew him when we were assigned at the DPRM (Directorate for Personnel Records and Management) for a long time. And I am certain that General Domingo has no involvement in illegal drugs,” said Azurin.
“He is not tainted that’s why I need someone to head PDEG who has no link whatsoever to illegal drugs because I do not know the people there. That’s the reason why General Domingo was there (PDEG), there’s trust, he is too honest,” he added.
In his press briefing last week, Domingo said he did not bring anyone to the PDEG.
Azurin defended Domingo who earlier lamented why he ended up being accused of cover-up despite the confiscation of P6.7 billion worth of shabu from the lending agency of Mayo in October last year.
While he admitted some lapses in the operational procedures in connection with Mayo’s arrest, Domingo said it was part of the tactical move to seize more illegal drugs since Mayo claimed that there was more shabu in a warehouse in Pasig City.
Azurin said it was actually Domingo who requested for the creation of a task group after discovering the pilferage of shabu by at least three PDEG personnel involving 42 kilos of shabu.
No cover-up attempt
Azurin also disputed the allegation of Abalos that there was an attempt to spare Mayo througa cover-up, saying the fact that a special investigation task group was created would reveal that they want to dig deeper into the matter.
“Contrary to what our many critics say, let me also categorically say that there was no attempt to cover up or exculpate Police Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo from his involvement in illegal drugs operations,” said Azurin.
“Why start a fact-finding task group in the first place if there was no intent to dig deeper into this drug mess—which obviously continued to persist through the years,” he added.
Azurin said the initial result of the investigation of the SITG 990 proved the PNP critics wrong.
During a press briefing on Sunday, April 16, SITG 990 head Police Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz revealed that more shabu were stolen as revealed by the complete CCTV footage they obtained at the course of the investigation.
Focus on the real enemy
Azurin then urged Abalos not to rely so much on the people feeding him with information.
“Let me call the attention, also of our kind Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, the honorable Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos, Jr to take a second look on the people who may be feeding him with misinformation to cast doubt on the integrity of the PNP organization which is under his authority,” said Azurin.
“While I join the good SILG in the fight against erring personnel in the police force, let us not lose focus on the real enemy here—which is shabu and the drug syndicates,” he added.