TWO police generals were being investigated over their alleged links to a police sergeant who was arrested following the seizure of P13.6 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) in his lending agency office in Manila.
In a press conference on Monday, October 24, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said the ranking police officials, who he refused to identify, were on a floating status.
He said there is no sufficient evidence against them so far.
"These officers have careers, they worked hard for their careers and that is why we are very careful, we are not mentioning any names," said Azurin.
On October 9, Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr., who was assigned to the PNP Drug Enforcement Group's Special Operations Unit in the National Capital Region, was arrested in an operation in Quiapo, Manila.
The operation stemmed from the arrest of a drug suspect identified as Ney Saligumba Atadero during a buy-bust operation in Tondo Manila on Saturday afternoon, October 8.
Recovered from Atadero were over 990 kilograms of shabu with an estimated value of P6.7 billion.
Atadero revealed to police that more illegal drugs can be found inside a lending company office, the Wealth and Personal Development Lending Inc., in Sta. Cruz that was owned by Mayo.
Found inside the office were two kilograms of shabu with an estimated street value of P13.6 million.
Azurin also revealed that two police officers were also under investigation for allegedly sneaking out bags of shabu from the 990 kilos recovered from Atadero.
PDEG chief Brigadier General Narciso Domingo said that in CCTV footage, a man was seen loading two bags of illegal drugs inside a vehicle.
When one of the police sergeants was asked about the matter, he admitted that there were 30 kilos of shabu still in their possession and that the car is owned by another PDEG operative.
When the other PDEG operative was asked to appear before the PDEG headquarters, he informed his superior instead that he would just leave the illegal drugs near Camp Crame in Quezon City.
During the inspection, it was found that there were 42 kilos left by the PDEG operative with an estimated street value of P285.6 million.
"There is an ongoing investigation and as I have said, all those involved, all those whose names would surface in the conduct of the investigation will be held accountable in order to put a stop to the issue of recycling (of illegal drugs)," said Azurin. (SunStar Philippines)