Dela Rosa was referring to Lieutenant Colonels Glenn Gonzales and Arnulfo Ibañez, who were both relieved from their post at the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) and Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Special Operations Unit (SOU)-National Capital Region (NCR), respectively.
The removal of Gonzales and Ibañez from their posts was due to their alleged involvement in a “massive cover-up attempt” of the October 2022 anti-illegal drug operation that resulted in the arrest of Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. and seizure of P6.7 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu).
“Kung tutuusin, a lot of explaining to do itong si Ibañez at Gonzales. Nakita nyo naman sa hearing naka-sentro (Ibañez and Gonzales have a lot of explaining to do. You saw that the hearing has been centered) around them ‘yung mga question surrounding this shabu haul aside from Mayo,” he said in a press conference following the hearing.
During the hearing, relieved PDEG director Brigadier General Narciso Domingo admitted lapses on the operation, particularly on their failure to conduct a proper inventory of the seized illegal drugs, as they were more focused on getting bigger fishes in the illegal drug trade by using Mayo.
Days after the operations, it was found that several kilos of shabu were pilfered by police from Mayo’s Wealth and Personal Development (WPD) Lending Inc. office in Tondo, Manila. A total of 42 kilos of shabu were later returned. Forty-nine police personnel were found to have criminal and administrative liability over the stolen 42 kilograms of shabu.
Domingo said Ibañez was Mayo’s superior and was the one who pushed for the conduct of a follow-up operation using the latter.
He said the conduct of the operation was initially approved by then PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr., who later took back his decision “supposedly because Ibañez might clean up his mess and kill Mayo.”
Gonzales, on the other hand, according to Domingo, should have not dipped his hands in the operation, noting that he is no longer with PDEG and was then assigned at the QCPD.
Domingo said Gonzales was after the reward for his informant who gave information about Mayo.
Dela Rosa said there was “indeed” an attempt to cover up the operation, particularly to free Mayo and not tag him as a suspect.
He said Azurin was already “off the hook” on the cover-up attempt.
“Inamin ni Domingo na ang spot report nya kay chief PNP na hindi kasama si Mayo was purposeful para mag follow-up operation sila, so maybe, doon sa level ni Domingo, Olonal ‘yung attempt na cover up, on the main issue of the one ton of shabu, ang cover-up hanggang kay Mayo,” said Dela Rosa.
(Domingo admitted that his spot report to the PNP chief that did not include Mayo was purposeful so that they could do a follow-up operation, so maybe, at Domingo’s level, the cover-up was from the one ton of shabu up to Mayo’s involvement.)
“Si Domingo 50/50 (cleared), si Olonal 70/25 kasi siya ang ground commander, 70 not of the hook, 25 off the hook, so most likely, talaga andoon siya sa alleged cover-up,” he added.
(Domingo is 50/50 cleared, while Olonal is 70/25 because he is the ground commander, so most likely, he was really there in the alleged cover-up.)
Mayo refused to say literally anything aside from “I invoke my right to self-incrimination” during the hearing related to the issue.
Ibañez, along with two other police officers, were under contempt of the Senate panel. The contempt status can only be lifted, according to Dela Rosa, if they will tell the truth.
Dela Rosa said his committee will start crafting a report on the issue.
He said their recommendation may cover the reorganization of PDEG and the policy on assignment and rotation of personnel, and the power of the chief PNP and police commanders to discipline their men.
“Dapat walang mga bagong pulis. Dapat expose na sa normal police work bago ilagay sa drug unit,” said Dela Rosa.
(There should be no new police officers. They must be exposed to normal police work before being placed in the drug unit.)
The senator said, though, that he is willing to re-open the investigation if a certain Mike Sy, the number one drug personality in the country, will finally face the probe.
“May taong lumapit sa akin na kilala si Mike Sy at gusto daw magsalita sa committee. Gusto niya sigurong linisin ‘yung kanyang pagiging number 1 drug personality sa Pilipinas… Pagsasalitain ko sya sa committee,” he said.
(Someone who knew Mike Sy came to me and said that Sy wanted to speak to the committee. He probably wants to clear his status as the number 1 drug personality in the Philippines… I will have him talk in the committee.)
“Siya ang source ng shabu kasi matagal na siyang target ng PDEA… As far as the report of PDEA is concerned, siya ang nasa top of the list na wanted na drug personality. Pwede niyang pangalanan sino ‘yung mga pulis at PDEA na may hawak sa kanya,” he added.
(He is the source of shabu because he has been a target of PDEA for a long time… As far as the report of PDEA is concerned, he is on the top of the list of wanted drug personalities. He can name the police and PDEA personnel who are holding him.)
Dela Rosa said Sy was supposed to attend the final hearing but backed out at the last minute and can no longer be contacted. (SunStar Philippines)