Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 14) — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday said a syndicate operating within the police force is possibly behind the ₱6.7-billion drug haul that happened in October 2022.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source, DILG Sec. Benhur Abalos said that during the probe into the 990 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu seized in Tondo, Manila, authorities had a hard time getting information because no one was speaking up regarding the case.
When he asked investigators why, Abalos said he was warned that the government is “up against a very powerful syndicate and these are very evil persons. They will hurt you where it will hurt you most.”
This information led former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. to push for the courtesy resignation of generals and colonels, Abalos noted.
“I felt so frustrated, what’s happening here. Ang dapat na lang natin gawin dito after the resignation… we want to make sure to them that we’re serious…. Papakulong namin kayo. That’s what we are doing right now. We are really house cleaning everything,” the Interior secretary said.
[Translation: I felt so frustrated, what’s happening here. What we should do after the resignation, we want to make sure to them that we’re serious. We will put you behind bars. That’s what we are doing right now. We are really house cleaning everything.]
Following a joint investigation by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) and the PNP, Abalos on Tuesday announced that criminal complaints have been filed against 50 police personnel, including two generals, for their suspected involvement in the big-time shabu drug haul.
The government will also soon file administrative complaints against the police personnel tagged in the issue, Abalos noted.
While complaints were already filed, the DILG secretary said they have yet to determine where the illegal drugs were sourced.
