Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 10) — Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos urges several ranking police officials to file leaves of absence within the week, pending the investigation into their alleged involvement in the ₱6.7-billion shabu haul from a police sergeant last year.
In a press briefing on Monday, the chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) claimed that there was a “massive attempt” to cover up the arrest of Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo following the confiscation of nearly a metric ton of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu from his property last year.
Abalos bared the names of the 11 high-ranking police officials and three personnel allegedly involved to cover up the arrest. These were then Deputy Chief PNP for Operations PLtGen Benjamin Santos Jr., PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Director Narciso Domingo, PDEG Special Operations Unit (SOU) Region 4A chief PCol Julian Olonan, PDEG SOU Region 4A Arresting Team head PCpt Jonathan Sosongco, PDEG SOU National Capital Region (NCR) officer-in-charge PLtCol Arnulfo Ibañez.
The list also includes PDEG SOU NCR deputy chief PMaj Michael Angelo Salmingo, PLtCol Glenn Gonzales from the Quezon City Police District, PDEG intelligence officer PLt Ashrap Amerol, Manila Police District Moriones Station Commander PLtCol Harry Lorenzo III, PDEG SOU 4A intelligence chief PCpt Randolph Piñon.
Also asked to file a leave were Police Master Sgt. Lorenzo Catarata, Police Senior Master Sgt. Jerrywin Rebosora, Police Staff Sgt. Arnold Tibay and Patrolman Peter Gular.
Abalos presented a CCTV footage of the Oct. 8 anti-illegal drugs operation in Mayo’s lending firm in Tondo, Manila. He said that the video shows a “different scenario” from the narration of the events contained in the reports provided by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
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