REVILLA SEEKS INQUIRY ON POLICE INVOLVEMENT IN P6.7 BILLION DRUG HAUL

SENATOR Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 564 on Tuesday (April 11) directing the proper Senate committees to conduct a legislative inquiry on the alleged involvement of high-ranking officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the October 8, 2022 drug buy-bust operation in Tondo, Manila as bared by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. during the agency’s recent press briefing.

“I first congratulate Sec. Abalos for his swift action on the matter. Nakakalungkot na tila may mga bulok pa rin sa organisasyon na sumisira dito kaya't kailangan na mausisa nang hindi na pamarisan," Revilla said.

DILG Sec. Abalos revealed that there was a “massive attempt” to cover up the arrest of Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr., a member of the PNP who also owned the property where the P6.7 billion worth of illegal drugs was recovered. Based on the testimonies of several personalities and other pieces of evidence gathered by the fact-finding investigation of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), doubts have been casted on Mayo’s sole involvement and suggested that he may not have acted alone.

During the press briefing, Abalos played the CCTV footage where several ranking members of the police are seen during the day of the buy-bust operation. He said that the video shows different scenarios from the narration of events contained in the reports provided by the PNP.

The police officers identified in the footage were Police Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr. who was then Deputy Chief PNP for Operations; Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, director of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG); Col. Julian Olonan, chief of PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Special Operations Unit (SOU) Region 4A; Capt. Jonathan Sosongco, head of the PDEG SOU 4A arresting team; Lt. Col. Arnulfo Ibañez, OIC of PDEG SOU National Capital Region (NCR); Maj. Michael Angelo Salmingo, deputy of PDEG SOU NCR; Lt. Col. Glenn Gonzales of Quezon City Police District; Lt. Ashrap Amerol, intelligence officer of PDEG Intelligence and Foreign Liaison Division; Lt. Col. Harry Lorenzo, Manila Police District Moriones Station Commander; and Captain Randolph Piñon, chief of PDEG SOU 4A Intelligence Section.

"Sec. Abalos thus far has risen to the ocassion and stepped up to this big challenge. Ang kasunod, kailangang mapanagot ang mga may-sala at mapigilan na maulit pa ang ganito," the lawmaker stressed.

"Ito ang dahilan sa likod ng paghiling natin sa Senado na tignan at suriin ang pangyayaring ito. Para tumulong na siguruhing mananagot sa batas ang mga halang ang kaluluwa sa likod ng kalapastanganan na ito," he ended.

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OPISYAL NG PNP NA SABIT SA P6.7B DRUG BUST, IMBESTIGAHAN ---- REVILLA

Isinumite ni Senador Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. ang Senate Resolution No.564 noong Martes na nag-aatas sa kinauukulang komite na magsagawa ng legislative inquiry hinggil sa pagkakasangkot ng isang high-ranking official ng Philippine National Police (PNP).

Sa isang press briefing ay inilahad ni Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr na nasakote ang suspek na si Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr., sa isinagawang drug buy-bust operation noong Oktubre 8, 2022 sa Tondo, Manila.

"Binibigyang- pugay natin Secretary Abalos hinggil sa pag aksiyon sa napakalaking kasong ito. Nakalulungkot na may mga bulok pa rin sa organisasyon kaya't kailangan ng masusing imbestigasyon para hindi na pamarisan", pahayag ni Revilla.

Ibinulgar ni Abalos na tinangka pang itago ang naganap na pag-aresto kay Mayo na nag- iingat ng P6.7 bilyong halaga ng illegal na droga at posibleng hindi nag- iisa si Mayo, base sa fact -finding investigation na isinagawa ng National Police Commission ( NAPOLCOM).

Sa naturang press briefing, ipinanuod ni Abalos ang CCTV footage kung saan makikita ang ilang matataas na opisyal ng PNP sa naganap na buy- bust at ang video ay nagpapakita ng senaryo base sa nilalaman ng report na isinumite ng PNP.

Ang mga opisyal ng PNP na nasa video footage ay nakilalang sina Police Lt. General Benjamin Santos Jr., na noon ay deputy chief for Operations; Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, director ng PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG); Col. Julian Olonan, chief ng PDEG- Special Operations Unit (SOU); Capt. Jonathan Sosongco, namuno sa PDEG- SOU Region 4-A arresting team.

Kasama rin sina Lt. Col. Arnulfo Ibañez, OIC ng PDEG- SOU National Capital Region ( NCR); Maj. Michael Angelo Salmingo, deputy ng PDEG- SOU NCR; Lt. Col. Glenn Gonzales ng Quezon City Police District; Lt. Ashrap Amerol, intelligence officer ng PDEG Intelligence in Foreign Liaison Division; Lt. Col. Harry Lorenzo, Manila Policr District- Moriones Station Commander at Capt. Randolph Piñon, chief ng PDEG- SOU 4-A Intelligence Section.

"Napakalalim na ng narating ni Secretary Abalos hinggil sa kasong ito, at ito ang dahilan ng paghiling natin sa senado na imbestigahan ang pangyayaring ito para managot ang may sala" saad pa ni Revilla.
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