LIEUTENANT General Benjamin Santos Jr. denied on Friday, April 14, 2023, any involvement on the alleged “massive cover-up” of an anti-illegal drugs operation in Manila City on October 2022 that resulted in the seizure of 990 kilograms of shabu and the arrest of former Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr.

In a press conference in Camp Crame, Santos, former Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy chief for operations, the third highest rank in the police organization, said the accusations linking him to the cover-up attempt was “baseless.”

Santos, who is currently on a floating status under the Office of the Chief PNP, was among the PNP officials and officers whom Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. named over the weekend as allegedly involved in the massive cover-up of the operation.

He was placed on a floating status a month after Abalos urged full-fledged police colonels and generals to submit a courtesy resignation in a bid to cleanse the police rank of scalawags, especially those involved in the illegal drug trade.

Abalos’ call stemmed from the arrest of Mayo.

On Monday, April 10, Abalos presented a closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage that showed the actual event of the operation, which is seemingly different to the report rendered by the Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG).

“Relying only on the CCTV footage, with no due process or further consultations, Secretary Abalos, however well-meaning he may have been, implicated my name in the purported irregular buy-bust operation,” said Santos.

“I strongly deny any involvement in whatever impropriety or infraction of law or standard operating procedures if there are any in the alleged cover-up in the buy bust operation,” he added.

Santos said PNP Chief General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. called him up on the afternoon of October 8, 2022, while in the middle of a celebration for his 55th birthday, and instructed him to visit the site of an anti-illegal drugs operation in Manila where the drug haul was recovered.

He said he inspected the crime scene and met with the officers involved in the operation and provided them with guidance that they needed to comply with the requirement of inquest, especially to strictly follow the chain of custody in the inventory of drugs to ensure an air tight case against the suspects.

Santos denied having knowledge of the tactical plan of the PDEG to use Mayo to arrest his source of illegal drugs where more illegal drugs may be recovered.

Santos said he is not even aware that Mayo was already under arrest when he visited the crime scene, noting that he only went there to congratulate the operatives and ensure the proper inventory of the illegal contraband.

“Nung pagdating ko doon, the operation itself, the nitty-gritty of the operations wala akong alam doon okay. Kaya ko lang naman ininsist na si Mayo kasi nakita ko ‘yung ID ni Mayo doon sa loob ng vault. Yun ang reason sinabi ko eto na ito, hulihin niyo ito,” said Santos.

“Bakit nga hindi nila sinabi sa akin? Walang nagsabi (na arrested na si Mayo),” he added.

In a press conference on Tuesday, April 11, PDEG Director Brigadier General Narciso Domingo said they tried to hide the arrest of Mayo for the purpose of using him to get bigger fishes on the illegal drugs trade, a “tactical move” approved by Santos and Azurin.

Santos took a swipe at Abalos for interfering with the affairs of the PNP.

“Tama po yun hindi ba. Kapag tatay ka sa bahay ka lang, sa loob mo lang ng bahay. Kasi ang family ng PNP it starts with the Chief PNP and ends with the Chief PNP. That’s the close family. Siguro kapag ianalyze natin sa family, si SILG baka lolo o ano na ‘yun kasi sa taas na siya di ba,” he said.

“Unless your lolo nakikialam sa family mo. Hindi di ba? Let’s be practical. Let’s see it as a family. Kami family kami, ang head nito is the Chief PNP, ang tatay po namin is the Chief PNP,” he added.

Santos said he is also puzzled by the appeal of Abalos for him to file a leave of absence to pave way for an impartial investigation on the matter, noting that he can no longer influence any probe due to his current status. (SunStar Philippines)