Ex-cop in P6.7-B drug haul case invoke right vs. self-incrimination

The former police master sergeant who had been charged in connection with the 990 kilograms of shabu seized in Manila in October last year would not tell on his conspirators.

Appearing before the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, ex-Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. repeatedly invoked his right against self-incrimination when asked about other police officers who might be involved in the P6.7-billion drug haul.

“’Yung isang tonelada na shabu na nahuli sa’yo, ikaw lang ba talaga involved don at si Atadero o meron pang iba?” Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa asked to which Mayo responded “I invoke my right to remain silent.”

Mayo’s repeated response irked Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who said that previously accused individuals who invoked their rights to remain silent turned out to be guilty of the accusations against them.

“During the time that I investigated AFP generals, ganoon din ang sinasagot sa akin: ‘I invoke my right to remain silent.’ ‘I invoke my right to self-incrimination.’ And it turned out to be true. Why are you always invoking your right?” Estrada asked.

Mayo said he was already facing criminal charges.

“Mr. Chair, wala tayong mahihita diyan kung ganyan ganyan ang sagot niyan,” the senator said.

In trying to convince Mayo to testify before the Senate panel, Dela Rosa said Mayo might have been fooled by the people that he was protecting.

“Sige kargahin mo ‘yung buong kasalanan na ito. Yung mga kasamahan mo ngayon, yung mga tao na nasa taas mo, tawa nang tawa ngayon. Sige aminin mo lahat yan. Baka nabobola ka lang nila ngayon na sinabihan ka lang na ‘Just remain silent. Marami tayong pera na naimbak ngayon. Kayang kaya namin suportahan ang pamilya mo habang nakakulong ka at pagkatapos makakalabas ka rin. Kaya namin magbayad sa piskal, kaya namin magbayad sa judge para makalusot ka sa kaso mo,” Dela Rosa said.

“Baka yan ang pambobola na binigay sa’yo ng mga kasamahan mo…The whole world doesn't believe in you. Alam namin na isang toneladang shabu di kayang itago, i-maintain ng isang master sergeant lamang. You cannot fool me. You cannot fool this committee,” the former PNP chief turned lawmaker said.

At the same hearing, Mayo was also asked if he served as a “bagman” for higher officials in the PNP.

Mayo denied the allegation.

“Sigurado ka wala kang tinatagong blue book?” Senator Raffy Tulfo asked to which Mayo responded “No, your honor.”

In an ambush interview, Dela Rosa said the Senate panel has to respect Mayo’s right which he repeatedly invoked.

“Di naman natin siya pwedeng sakalin sa harap niyo,” Dela Rosa said.

In October 2022, Mayo was arrested after authorities confiscated shabu worth P6.7 billion following a series of anti-drug operations in Manila.

Mayo is an intelligence officer for the PDEG, based on police records.

Police officers allegedly pilfered around 42 kilos of shabu from the illegal drugs seized from Mayo.

Due to this, 49 PNP officials and personnel would face criminal and administrative charges due to their alleged cover-up of the incident. —NB, GMA Integrated News