MANILA – The Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) has recommended the dismissal from the service of a police sergeant who was arrested in an operation that yielded PHP6.7 billion worth of shabu in Manila in October last year.
IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said they have submitted to the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management on Jan. 9 the recommendation to dismiss Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr., a member of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group Special Operations Unit in the National Capital Region.
"It is now upon the discretion of the Chief PNP (Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.), whether he will uphold or reverse the decision. We respect that," he said in a phone interview with reporters.
Triambulo said Mayo's benefits would be forfeited, his eligibility will be revoked and he will be perpetually disqualified from holding any other government posts once he is dismissed from the service.
Azurin, meanwhile, said he has yet to read the copy of the IAS' recommendation.
"For as long as they (IAS) have the recommendation, the result of the investigation is already for my approval. We will still have to check if the recommended punishment is appropriate for the supposed offense he (May) had committed," Azurin said on the sidelines of the National Day of Remembrance for the 44 PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) police commandos at Camp Crame.
Reacting to the report that Mayo did not submit a counter-affidavit during the IAS probe, Azurin said it was tantamount to waiving all his rights in the investigation.
"So we cannot fault whatever the recommendation of the IAS because they are investigating an administrative case. I think it is Sgt. Mayo's fault that he did not submit any counter-affidavit," he said.
He said the investigation as to who ordered the return of Mayo to PDEG is ongoing.
Mayo was arrested on Oct. 8 a few hours after the discovery of 990 kilos of shabu inside a lending company in Quiapo, Manila which he allegedly owns.
Mayo’s arrest prompted an investigation which, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said, revealed that some high-ranking police officials were involved in the illegal drugs trade.
This prompted Abalos to call on police colonels and generals to submit their courtesy resignations.
Meanwhile, Azurin said Abalos wants to meet with the 11 senior police officers who have yet to file a courtesy resignation.
Out of this number, three ranking cops said the act is already irrelevant as they are already retiring before the Jan. 31 deadline.
"I think our Secretary wanted to talk to them to explain and know why they are hesitant, why they are thinking about it and why they are hesitant to submit a courtesy resignation. Maybe there are thinking if there is still a need for them to submit. I think that is one of the issues they want to discuss with Secretary Abalos," Azurin said. (PNA)
