MANILA, Philippines — Two high-ranking police officers are being probed following the arrest of two police anti-narcotics agents and the seizure of nearly a ton of shabu in Manila earlier this month, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) commander Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.
Azurin, speaking at a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City, said the two police generals’ names appeared because of their alleged connections to the police sergeant who operates the lending business where 990 kilograms of shabu were discovered on Oct. 8.
“They are in a state of flux. But this is unjust to them because their names are being brought into this despite the fact that there is insufficient evidence so far “Azurin stated to reporters.
“These officers had jobs, they worked hard for their professions, and that is why we are so careful not to divulge any names,” he added.
Meanwhile, two police sergeants assigned to the Philippine National Police’s Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) allegedly stole 42 kilos of shabu from the 990 kilos confiscated during the Oct. 8 operation.
After reviewing closed circuit television (CCTV) footage before and after the raid at the Wealth and Personal Development Lending Inc. in Sta. Cruz, Manila, run by Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr., PDEG chief Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo found the incident.
Mayo is a PDEG intelligence officer who was apprehended following a follow-up operation in Quiapo, Manila early on Oct. 9 uncovered at least two kilos of shabu inside his car.
A man was seen leaving the lending agency office and then carrying the two suitcases into a car in the video.
When asked to comment on the situation, one of the police sergeants revealed that they still had 30 kilos of shabu in their possession and that the automobile was owned by another PDEG operative.
When the other PDEG operator was summoned to the PDEG headquarters, he instead notified his superior that he would just dump the illegal drugs near Camp Crame in Quezon City.
During the inspection, it was discovered that the PDEG operative had left 42 kilos with an estimated street value of PHP285.6 million.
“There is an ongoing investigation, and as I have stated, all those involved, all those whose names would come to light throughout the course of the investigation will be held accountable in order to put an end to the issue of recycling (of illegal narcotics),” Azurin said.
Following the Oct. 8 operation, the PNP stated that it would seek that the confiscated illegal substances be destroyed immediately in order to prevent any recycling attempts.
Source: PNP