PNP chief issues order amid shabu ‘misappropriation’

ACTING on instructions from Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., the chairman of the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) 990 on Thursday ordered the disarming of 49 officers and men, mostly from the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) involved in the “misappropriation” of shabu seized during a major anti-narcotics operation in Sta. Cruz, Manila in October last year, the Journal Group learned yesterday.

Major Gen. Eliseo DC Cruz, the PNP Director for Investigation and Detective Management and concurrent chairman of SITG 990, issued a memorandum to Brigadier Gen. Faro Antonio O. Olaguera last April 13 to “recall the service firearms of the personnel involved in the misappropriation of confiscated illegal drugs.”

“This pertains to the result of the investigation conducted by SITG 990 regarding the anti-illegal drug operation conducted by your unit on October 8 and 9, 2022 resulting to the confiscation of 990 kilograms of shabu and the recovery of 42 kilograms of shabu on October 15, 2022. After thorough investigation, 49 personnel were found to have committed criminal and administrative liabilities. In this regard, you are directed to recall the service firearms of the following personnel to wit,” Cruz told Olaguera.

Among those ordered to turn over their service firearms to Olaguera were former PNP-DEG director Brig. Gen. Narciso D. Domingo, Colonels Rolando T. Portera and Julian Olonan, Lieutenant Colonels Arnulfo Ibañez and Glenn Gonzales, Major Michael Angelo Salmingo, Lt. Jonathan Sosongco, Lt. Col. Dheffry A. Punzalan, Lt. Jeffrey C. Padilla and Lt. Silverio P. Bulleter II.

The rest are all Police Non-Commissioned Officers of the PNP-DEG.

Cruz instructed Olaguera to submit the result of the actions he has taken regarding the SITG 990 memorandum not later than Tuesday, April 17.

The SITG 990 will hold a press conference on Sunday afternoon to discuss the findings from its investigation into the illegal drug case of now-dismissed Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. amid the seizure of the 990 kilograms of shabu worth P6.7 billion.

Mayo, a PNP-DEG intelligence officer, was arrested during the sting.

Last Monday, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” C. Abalos Jr. asked Domingo and former PNP Deputy Chief for Operations, Lieutenant Gen. Benjamin D. Santos Jr. and eight other police officers to go on leave pending a National Police Commission investigation into an alleged “cover-up” on the Mayo case.

Now in jail facing unbailable drug charges, Mayo has been ordered dismissed from the police service by Azurin.

Domingo maintained his conscience is clear as he filed his leave of absence.

“We assure you that there was no attempted cover-up here, kung ‘yun po ang iniisip ng karamihan na ang PDEG kami ay nag-cover up sa maling pinaggagawa ng mga tao namin,” he said.

The official also said that they have turned over all pieces of evidence including CCTV footages at the scene of the operation to the SITG 990 created by Azurin following the incident.

The official also maintained that it was him and his men who were involved in the seizure of the 990 kilos of shabu which were eventually destroyed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency last March 16.

“It is us who also discovered that some of our men smuggled 42 kilos of the drug. Kung kasabwat kami, sana tumahimik na lang kami pero agad kaming nagreport kay Chief PNP. Our conscience is clear and we assure you that there’s no attempt to cover-up right from the very start,” he said.

The PNP leadership welcomed any investigation into the controversy-marred anti-drug operation in Manila.

PNP Public Information Office chief, Colonel Redrico A. Maranan also maintained that the 227,000-strong force remains firm on its resolve to keep peace and order in the country and won’t be affected by the involvement of a very few of their colleagues in illicit activities.

“The PNP leadership headed by General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. welcomes any congressional investigation into the matter and will be ready to answer all matters to be raised point by point,” said the official.

Maranan also said that as a highly-professional organization, the PNP remains 100 percent committed to its duty to enforce the law and keep peace and order in the streets despite the latest controversy.

The PNP leadership likewise aired its full support to Abalos’ call on some police officers to go on a leave of absence in the wake of an ongoing investigation into the major drug haul.

“The PNP supports the intention of DILG Secretary Atty. Benjamin Abalos Jr. to conduct investigation on the circumstances related to the arrest of PMSgt Rodolfo Mayo Jr., who was involved in the 6.7 Billion drug haul in the country October last year,” said Maranan.

“Likewise, the PNP backs SILG’s call for the voluntary submission of leave of absence by PNP officers depicted to be directly involved in the arrest of PMSgt Mayo as seen in the CCTV footages. We believe that such is the most prudent thing to do by said officers to prevent them from influencing the investigation at any stage,” he added.

Maranan said that the SITG has diligently and efficiently went over all the gathered sets of evidence in order to reach a logical conclusion.

“The SITG has conducted 21 case conferences, twice a week for the past months and have been exercising prudence by ensuring that all evidences collected are to be accepted by the court. The final report with recommendation has already been submitted to Office of the Chief, PNP,” he explained.

“In all circumstances, the PNP will not tolerate any wrongdoing of any member of the organization, regardless of rank and position. We will respect the proceedings and abide by the directives of the NAPOLCOM and other constituted authorities in this matter.

Be that as it may, the PNP is firm in its commitment and oath to be an organization clothed with integrity and worthy of the people’s trust and confidence,” the official said. By ALFRED DALIZON & ZAIDA DELOS REYES