Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. insisted this Monday that there is no plan to cover up the P6.7 billion worth of shabu seized during a raid on a police officer. This contradicts what was announced by Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. last week.
In a press conference at Camp Crame, Azurin said there is no attempt to prolong the ongoing investigation in the case of Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr, who was caught with more than 900 kilos of shabu in October 2022 in Manila.
Mayo, a former member of the Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG), was fired.
“Why start a fact-finding group in the first place if there was no intent to dig deeper in the drug mess, which obviously continued to persist through the years,” said Azurin.
“The SITG’s (Special Investigation Task Group) finding will prove wrong the critics claim that there was an attempt to derail the investigation,” he added.
When Azurin was asked why he spoke only now, a week after Abalos said that someone was planning a cover-up in Mayo’s case, the police chief explained, “Ang reason diyan is ‘pag ako kasi ang humarap kaagad, I have to give ‘yung mga ibang naakusahan their time to also explain their side. Kaya nga inuna natin si Colonel Domingo because he also has something to say.”
PNP Chief Azurin denies cover-up on seized P6.7-B worth of shabu
Police Brigadier General Narciso Domingo is the former director of the Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG), who has been removed from his post while investigating the involvement of P6.7-billion worth of shabu, considered the PNP’s biggest drug bust, which continues.
According to PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) director Police Major General Eliseo Cruz, Domingo may face heavier responsibility because of the matter.
The arrest of Mayo and the discovery of drugs became controversial because of the sightings of PNP officers and personnel who went to the place where Mayo was caught.
There were also allegations that some shabu was taken from the seized drugs, and it was seen on the CCTV camera that Mayo left the area and was removed from the handcuffs.
Meanwhile, Azurin said it was not fair or reasonable to make public the names of senior PNP officials, particularly the generals, who are said to be involved in the controversy.
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