Senate panel cites Mayo, superior in contempt over P6.7B shabu haul

The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on Tuesday cited in contempt dismissed Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. and his superior, Lieutenant Colonel Arnulfo Ibañez over the P6.7 billion shabu haul in Manila last year.

Senator Raffy Tulfo filed the motion to have Ibañez cited in contempt for supposedly “lying through his teeth" and refusing to disclose who is behind the drug haul.

“Wala akong idea, your Honor. Wala akong personal knowledge, your Honor, [I have no idea, I have no personal knowledge on the matter],” said Ibañez during the Senate probe. 

Tulfo, however, did not believe Ibañez.

“Lt. Col. Ibañez, ‘wag na tayong maglokohan dito. Itong bata mo na isang sarhento, mababa ang rango kung tutuusin. Wala siyang kakayahan on his own to possess that huge amount of shabu on his own. Meron at meron siyang kasabwat at ‘yung kasabwat hindi pwedeng ‘yung katulad niyang dilis. Ang kasabwat nito, mga lapu-lapu, pating, at balyena,” answered Tulfo.

(Lt. Col. Ibañez, let's not fool around here. This subordinate of yours is a sergeant, who has a low rank. He does not have the ability on his own to possess that huge amount of shabu on his own. He has and has an accomplice and that accomplice cannot be a small fish like him. His accomplices are groupers, sharks, and whales.)

Ibañez was Mayo's superior when he was arrested in October 2022 after some 990 kilograms of suspected shabu with an estimated value of over P6.7 billion were seized following a series of anti-drug operations.

Police officers allegedly pilfered around 42 kilos of shabu from the illegal drugs seized from Mayo, who served as an intelligence officer for the PNP Drug Enforcement Group.

Mayo, during the hearing, invoked his right against self-incrimination.

Senator Robin Padilla then motioned that Mayo be cited in contempt as well, which was also approved by panel chairman Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa.

With this development, Ibañez will remain under the Senate’s custody, while Mayo will be continuously detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) until he is released and transferred to the Senate’s custody.

Dela Rosa earlier said the panel found out that there was an attempt to cover up the illegal drug case involving Mayo.

“Whether it’s attempted or frustrated cover up, bahala na kayong mga abugado maghanap ng tamang assessment dito [I’ll have the lawyers determine the right assessment]. But for me it’s attempted cover up, it’s not fully consummated by the fact that in the end, kinasuhan din si Mayo [Mayo was charged],” he said.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. earlier said there is no plan to cover up the Mayo drug mess, and there was no attempt to delay the investigation into Mayo’s supposed involvement in it.

Mayo was dismissed in March 21, 2023, over three counts of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

5 other cops also cited in contempt

During the same hearing, Senator Senator Jinggoy Estrada also moved to cite in contempt five more cops from Calabarzon for refusing to share information on the arrest of Mayo in Bambang. 

PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Special Operations Unit 4A arresting team head Captain Jonathan Sosongco said that his subordinates, Police Master Sergeant Carlo Bayeta, Patrolman Rommar Bugarin, Patrolman Hustin Peter Gular, Patrolman Hassan Kalaw, and Patrolman Dennis Carolino were along with him during the arrest.

The cops denied the allegation and said that they arrested Mayo’s alleged accomplice, Ney Atadero at the WPD Lending. 

"Until you tell us the truth before this Committee, I assure you, hindi kayo makakalabas [you will not get out]…I will advise the Chair, being a veteran lawmaker here, not to conduct the hearing unless you tell the truth. Mabubulok kayo magre-recess na kami [you will rot while we take our recess]," Estrada said.

Sosongco was cited for contempt last week for failing to provide the phone number of his informant in the shabu operations in Manila. 

During the Senate session, Padilla asked Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri if they could file a complaint against these individuals cited in contempt for not seriously answering their questions.

"Ang aming pagdinig ay hindi na sineseryoso noong mga tinatanong po namin katulad kanina walo na ang masasabi natin na naka-contempt. Parang nagbobolahan na lang kami doon ito ba ay di natin pwedeng i-adapt kung ano ang ginagawa sa ibang bansa na kapag parang nilalaro yung sinabi nila don ay pwede nating kasuhan?" he asked Zubiri.

(Our hearing is not being taken seriously, we can say that there were eight who were cited in contempt. It's like we're just fooling around here, is it possible to adapt what is being done in other countries and file a complaint against them?)

Zubiri said he also expressed his dismay as he monitored the Senate hearing.

"Unfortunately, it is provided by the Constitution under Section 19, so hindi talaga natin silang mapipilitan magsalita although macocontempt natin sila hanggang magsalita sila ng katotohanan (so we can't really force them to speak although we can contempt them until they speak the truth)," Zubiri said.

"Kung sa tingin ninyo hindi pa sila nagbibigay ng katotohanan at nagbibigay linaw sa inyong imbestigasyon ay pwede macontempt yun ng matagal, and of course it can either be here in the halls of Senate or it could be done in Pasay City Jail and there has been times na yung mga nacontempt natin ay doon sa Pasay City Jail kinulong," he added.

(If you think that they are not being truthful in your investigation, they can be cited in contempt for a long time. It can either be here in the halls of the Senate or it could be in Pasay City Jail, and there have been times that cited with contempt are detained in the Pasay City Jail.)

Zubiri also said that any individual can file a complaint against these people cited in contempt.

"Pero yung isang tanong niyo, pwede natin silang kasuhan? Pwedeng, pwede. Any individual can file the case and complaint against these individuals," he added.

(But your question is, can we file a complaint? You can, any individual can file a complaint against these individuals.)

Dela Rosa also kneeled and pleaded in front of policemen being linked to the controversy. 

"Please. Magsalita na kayo. Maawa kayo sa Pilipinas. Magluhod ako sa harapan ninyo, magsabi na kayo ng totoo. Luhod ako. Hindi ito power tripping ha. Nagpapakumbaba na ako para ilabas ang katotohanan alang alang sa mga anak ninyo," Dela Rosa said.

(Please. Speak now. Pity the Philippines. I kneel before you, please tell the truth. I'm on my knees now. This is not power-tripping. I’m humbling myself for you to tell the truth for the sake of your children.) —with Richa Noriega/ VAL, GMA Integrated News