LIKE a boiling pot about to spew over, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. on Monday called on Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., to focus on the real enemy in their campaign versus drugs, as he narrated that contrary to claims of the cabinet official, there is no cover-up in the illegal drug case involving now-dismissed Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr.
Abalos, earlier claimed that based on a CCTV footage, there is a clear cover-up on the case as he asked officials of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group to go on leave including their top official.
The PNP on Sunday admitted that there had been a feeling of dismay and disappointment with the moves and statements of the cabinet official, which was confirmed by Azurin on Monday.
During the press conference at Camp Crame, Azurin clearly stated that there was no attempt to delay or cover up the investigation into Mayo’s supposed involvement in the illegal drug operations.
“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,” Azurin noted.
“The SITG’s finding will prove wrong the critics claim that there was an attempt to derail the investigation,” he added, referring to the Special Investigation Task Group.
Azurin said Abalos should simply “focus on the real enemy,” as the latter earlier expressed belief that more high-ranking police officers were involved in the illegal drug case.
He also called on the DILG secretary to double check the details being provided to him
“Let us focus on the real enemy. Let me call also the attention of our kind SILG to take a second look on the people who may be feeding him misinformation to cast doubt on the integrity of the PNP organization,” the PNP chief said.
Mayo, a member of the PNP’s Drug Enforcement Group, was arrested in October 2022 after authorities confiscated 990 kilos of shabu worth P6.7 billion during a series of anti-drug operations in Manila.
Catherine R. Cueto
