House panel invites 2 generals, other PNP execs to probe of 990-kilo drug haul

Police officials were invited to testify before the House Dangerous Drugs Committee, which will resume its probe into the October 2022 seizure of 990 kilos of shabu in Tondo, Manila during which police officers were seen on video allegedly involved in the drug trade, Surigao del Norte Representative Ace Barbers said Tuesday.

Barbers, in a statement, said the following Philippine National Police (PNP) officials were invited to the April 26 committee hearing:

• former Deputy Chief PNP for Operations Police Lieutenant General Benjamin Santos Jr.,
• PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Director Police Brigadier General Narciso Domingo,
• PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Special Operations Unit (SOU) Region 4A chief Police Colonel Julian Olonan,
• PDEG SOU 4A arresting team head Captain Jonathan Sosongco,
• OIC of PDEG SOU National Capital Region (NCR) Police Lieutenant Colonel Arnulfo Ibañez,
• PDEG SOU NCR deputy Police Major Michael Angelo Salmingo,
• Police Lieutenant Colonel Glenn Gonzales of the Quezon City Police District,
• PDEG Intelligence Officer  and Foreign Liaison Division Police Lieutenant Ashrap Amerol,
• Manila Police District Moriones Station Commander Police Lieutenant Colonel Harry Lorenzo, and
• DEG SOU 4A Intelligence Section chief Police Captain Randolph Piñon.

Other resource persons invited to the hearing were Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla, PNP Chief Police Major General Benjamin Acorda, Ret. P/Gen. Virgilio Lazo of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), former PDEA chief Wilkins Villanueva, former PDEA NCR Director Alvin Alvarin, Bienvenido Rubio of the Bureau of Customs, Admiral Artemio Abu of the Philippine Coast Guard, and NBI Director Medardo De Lemos.

Also invited was Police Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr. of the PNP DEG and owner of WPD Lending. The 990 kilos of shabu were seized at the WPD Lending offices.

“As far as we know, only dismissed P/MSgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr. had been charged in court. We have not heard or seen any details of his administrative and criminal cases,” Barbers said.

“What about the other officers who we believe participated in the alleged double coverup and double recycling attempts in said incident,” Barbers asked.

“It is very important and very urgent for the police to find out the surrounding circumstances behind this particular drug recycling activity.” — DVM, GMA Integrated News