Philippine National Police Officials Embroiled in Controversy over Shabu Haul

Strategic Insights -

As the House of Representatives' committee on dangerous drugs conducts a hearing to determine the truth behind the biggest drug haul undertaken by the Philippine National Police (PNP), a police officer from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has come forward with allegations of officials discussing how to help Police Mst. Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo, the anti-narcotic operative arrested with 990 kilograms of shabu in October 2022.

Key Takeaways:

  • Police Lt. Col. Glenn Gonzales, an expert in anti-drug operations, testified that he heard PNP officials, including Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, Col. Julian Olonan, and Lt. Col. Arnulfo Ibanez, discussing how to help Sgt. Mayo, who was arrested with 990 kilograms of shabu in October 2022.
  • Gonzales claimed that the officials were talking about releasing Sgt. Mayo or charging him, and that Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr., the PNP Director for Operations, later ordered the arrest of Sgt. Mayo after being informed of the situation.
  • According to Gonzales, Col. Ibanez asked him to go to the scene of the operation to prevent his name from being dragged into Sgt. Mayo's activities, and that Ibanez and Olonan discussed releasing Sgt. Mayo or charging him without Gonzales present.
  • Brig. Gen. Domingo denied that he, Ibanez, and Olonan were discussing freeing Sgt. Mayo, but rather that they were talking about the follow-up operation planned in Pasig City.
  • Col. Olonan asserted that it was Gonzales who called him, not the other way around, and that the discussions were only about the follow-up operation.
  • The House of Representatives' committee on dangerous drugs is conducing a hearing to determine what transpired during the operation hatched in October 2022.

Statistics:

  • 990 kilograms of shabu were found in the office of Police Mst. Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo, the anti-narcotic operative arrested in October 2022.
  • 2 p.m. was the time when Gonzales was informed about the arrest of Sgt. Mayo, and he arrived at the scene at 4:30 p.m.
  • 4:00 p.m. was the time when Col. Ibanez called Gonzales to ask if he could go to the scene to prevent his name from being dragged into Sgt. Mayo's activities.
  • 3:07 p.m. was the time when Col. Olonan exited the Skyway after receiving a call from Gonzales, asking him about the operation.

Sources:

  • [Source 1] Police Lt. Col. Glenn Gonzales' testimony during the House of Representatives' committee on dangerous drugs hearing
  • [Source 2] Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo's statement denying involvement in discussing Sgt. Mayo's release
  • [Source 3] Col. Julian Olonan's testimony asserting that he and Gonzales discussed the follow-up operation
  • [Source 4] House of Representatives' committee on dangerous drugs' hearing on the 990 kilograms of shabu found in Sgt. Mayo's office