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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Mayo zips mouth in House probe, invokes 'right to remain silent'

Mayo zips mouth in House probe, invokes 'right to remain silent'

Published Apr 26, 2023 10:06 am
Former police master sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. (Screenshot from Zoom)



Congressmen who took part in the House panel probe on the controversial Manila drug bust tried, but failed, to wring out relevant information from detained former police master sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. on Wednesday afternoon, April 26. Mayo attended via Zoom the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs' hearing on the Oct. 8, 2022 drug bust wherein 990 kilos of shabu were confiscated inside WPD Lending office located along A. Bonifacio St., Tondo, Manila. Mayo reportedly owns the company, making him a focal person of the investigation in aid of legislation. However, the dismissed cop--wearing a yellow Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) shirt--repeatedly invoked his "right to remain silent" and "right against self-incrimination" when asked even the most basic questions by the solon-interpellators. Throwing questions at Mayo were panel chairman and Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, Antipolo 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop, Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville Luistro, and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro. Congressmen are suspecting that there is a cover-up on the Oct. 8 operation as well as an attempt to recycle the large haul of seized drugs. This suspicion was somewhat strengthened by the contradicting accounts of attending police officials as to the exact time and place that Mayo was arrested. Realizing that Mayo wasn't likely to cooperate with them, Acop, a former police brigadier general, tried to talk some sense into him. "Alam mo na ba ang mangyayari sayo?...ako, na-charge ako ng multiple murder in 1995. Inilaban ko yung kaso ko. 19 years thereafter, nanalo ako sa Korte Suprema. Hindi ko alam kung may pag-asa kang manalo (Do you know what will happen to you?...as for me, I was charged with multiple murder in 1995. I fought for my case. 19 years thereafter, I won in the Supreme Court. I don't know if you have a chance of winning)," Acop told Mayo. The solon said that Mayo technically cannot invoke such rights on questions that have nothing to do with his case. The Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) had earlier filed criminal charges against Mayo. "Naisip mo rin ba kung ano mangyayari sa pamilya mo (Have you thought of what would happen to your family)?' Acop said, as if prodding the embattled cop to "sing". "My apologies your honor. I invoke my right to remain silent," answered Mayo, to which the veteran congressman responded, "Mr. Chair, ayoko na (I quit)." Mayo, however, described the charges filed against him as "moro-moro", or just for show. "Mga moro-moro na kaso, your honor (These cases are just for show, your honor)," Mayo told Barbers during the latter's interpellation. But when Barbers asked him to elaborate, the dismissed cop once again invoked his right to remain silent. Mayo also chose to stay silent when Barbers asked where he was arrested.



Related Tags

romeo acop Rodolfo Mayo Jr. robert ace barbers
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