Anti-drug cop arrested over drug den with 1 ton of shabu

[Mike J]

Almost a ton of shabu and worth 6.7 billion peso.  Both numbers boggle the mind.  How does society tackle a problem of such a scale, especially in a country where poverty is so widespread.  

https://www.rappler.com/nation/anti-drug-cop-arrested-over-drug-den-shabu-manila/

The Philippine National Police (PNP) seized a total of 990 kilograms of shabu (methamphetamine) worth P6.7 billion in Tondo, Manila, then they found the ID, belongings, and “incriminating documents” of an active member of the police force.

Worse, the cop was an intelligence officer of the PNP’s Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) – the police unit especially tasked with leading the country’s anti-drug campaign.

The stunning operation showed how deep illegal drug groups may have penetrated even the national police’s most specialized units – posing a challenge to the new administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, which promised to continue and even improve the anti-drug campaign of his tough-talking predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.

In a press conference on Sunday afternoon, October 9, the PNP DEG’s own chief, Brigadier General Narciso Domingo narrated the shocking story which involved the cop under his own group, who was identified as Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr.

The story of the bust

The massive shabu haul was executed on Saturday, October 8 in the form of a buy-bust operation. At 4:45 pm, the PNP DEG swooped into a building along Jose Abad Santos Street in Barangay 252 in Tondo, Manila.

The building housed a lending company – Wealth and Personal Development Lending Inc – which police said was only a front. Inside were plastic bags of shabu stacked on top of each other, waiting to be distributed to different sellers.

Field officers arrested a certain Ney Saligumba Atadero, who showed up in the buy-bust to sell drugs.

While searching the building, police found the belongings of a cop and “incriminating documents” that led them to suspect him as a co-conspirator in running the drug den.

“During our search, we found an ID of a policeman inside a drawer, then belongings of a policeman,” said PNP DEG chief Narciso Domingo in English. He added that Mayo had other IDs bearing different names.

The police then kicked off a manhunt, leading to the arrest of their colleague Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr.

Why the PNP is worried

TOP COP WORRIED. General Rodolfo Azurin during the Sunday, October 9 press conference. Rappler screenshot.
The police are worried because Mayo could just be one of many cops involved in running the drug den, and he could just be a small fry among them.

“I would believe this is not just up to the level of Master Sergeant Mayo. We really have to have an intensive investigation,” said PNP chief General Rodolfo Azurin.

During the press conference, a reporter pointed out that Mayo, being an intelligence officer of the DEG, held important information about the drug trade.

In addition, being an intelligence officer gave Mayo the power to feed information to the PNP that affected its operations.

Azurin said Mayo will face administrative cases, which could lead to his dismissal from service as police prepared criminal complaints against him and other suspects

[scott h]

19 minutes ago, Mike J said:

poverty is so widespread.

Not buying poverty in this case. Not only did this cop supposedly own a business but according to google a PNP Master Sergeant makes a base pay of over 33k pesos a month. This was pure greed and the idea that his collogues are either so inept or corrupt he wouldn't get caught or would be able to bribe his way out of it.

[Old55]

One ton of meth! That is disturbing and sad to think there would be many more ranking PNP involved. 

Have to give General Azurin and this article some credit for their candor. 

[Snowy79]

When you think what a few thousand peso can buy you as far as bypassing beaurocracy here does you can imagine the power of billions. 

[Freebie]

Ask any Filipino if they trust the PNP.. in 30 years of asking never heard one say Yes, totally.

[Kingpin]

15 hours ago, Snowy79 said:

When you think what a few thousand peso can buy you as far as bypassing beaurocracy here does you can imagine the power of billions. 

No need to imagine, it's how the country is run, how politicians get their children elected, textbook oligarchy.

[Old55]

3 hours ago, Kingpin said:

No need to imagine, it's how the country is run, how politicians get their children elected, textbook oligarchy.

Indeed.

Philippines is a Kleptocracy led by a second generation expert.