DURING the continuation of the public inquiry into the alleged involvement of police officers in the P6.7-billion drug bust on Tuesday May 23 2023, of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs chaired by Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. berated policemen for their alleged involvement in illegal drug activities during the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.

Revilla asked Dela Rosa, former head of the Philippine National Police, to catch the head of the drug syndicates and to get to the bottom of the problem.

“What will be the future of our youth if we cannot solve this problem of illegal drugs? You should remember the pledge you made as a policeman. We have children and grandchildren and we don’t want them to fall victims to illegal drugs,” Revilla said.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo moved to cite a police colonel in contempt for his refusal to answer questions.

PLtCol. Arnulfo Ibanez, the superior of dismissed police officer PMSgt. Rodolfo Mayo, refused to answer Tulfo’s questions about the latter’s operations.

“He (Ibanez) is trying to fool this committee by saying that he has no idea about the movement of his men. He is lying through his teeth and he is making a fool out of us,” Tulfo said.

Sen. Robinhood Padilla moved to cite Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. in contempt for being unwilling to help shed light on the alleged involvement of high-ranking officials and officers of the Philippine National Police in the P6.7 billion drug buy-bust,

After granting the motion, Committee chairperson Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa requested the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to work with the Office of the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms to ensure that he be taken into Senate custody if the court handling Mayo’s cases grants his release order.

On the involvement of police personnel in the illegal drug trade, including their alleged attempts to cover their tracks, Padilla said it is sad that while the Constitution’s provisions including the right to remain silent aim to protect the rights of the people, the same provision is being invoked to keep the truth from coming out.

“Kung ganitong magtatakipan, hindi ko po alam kung itong ating Konstitusyon ay binababoy na mismo nitong mga taong ito,” Padilla said.

Padilla further said that what hurts all the more are that those abusing the Constitution’s provisions are law enforcers who take advantage of the due process provisions.

Under Art III, Section 12, “any person under investigation for the commission of an offense shall have the right to be informed of his right to remain silent and to have competent and independent counsel preferably of his own choice.”

Padilla challenged the police personnel linked to the drug trade should to remember their oath and show some guts.

“E kayo po na nandiyan sa serbisyo na kayo ay tumanggap ng oath, kayo tumanggap ng inyong pagsumpa, sana po ilabas nyo ang bayag ninyo diyan,” he said.

Earlier Tuesday, Padilla said a harsh law that will strike fear in the hearts of offenders is needed to end the “overdose” of law enforcers and politicians’ involvement in the illegal drug trade – including those trying to cover their colleagues’ tracks.

Under Padilla’s bill, any elective local or national official found to have benefited from the proceeds of drug trafficking or received financial or material contributions or donations from those found guilty of trafficking dangerous drugs shall suffer the penalty of death without prejudice to removal from office and perpetually disqualified from holding government positions.

But the death sentence shall not be inflicted upon a woman while pregnant or one year after delivery; or any person over 70 years of age.

In pushing for the death penalty, Padilla said current laws are too lenient on those involved in the drug trade, as they can merely invoke their right to remain silent.

“Pag may sumabit sa baba dapat sabit ang nasa taas (If someone down the chain is held liable, so must those higher up the chain),” he said.