Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. stressed on Wednesday that the agency is keen on ensuring the safety of the police officer who was recently arrested due to involvement in the P6.7-billion illegal drugs haul.

Abalos said that the arrested police officer — identified as MSg. Rodolfo Mayo Jr. and a member of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Group — may be the key on resolving the case and he may have information on the proliferation of illegal drugs.

The DILG secretary said that the suspect is already under protective custody and the agency will ensure his safety.

To recall, Mayo was caught in possession of 2 kilos of suspected shabu worth P13.6 million and Philippine National Police chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr., said investigators are checking if Mayo is in cahoots with other police officers or his superiors.

Abalos is hoping that the suspect will uncover all his accomplices and they are mulling to place the suspect under the Witness Protection program.

However, the DILG chief expressed apprehension on the idea of recommending placing the main suspect under the witness protection program.

"We still have to wait for the results initial investigation before we act on it," Abalos said.

Meantime, Abalos also apologized to those people whom he had close contact with following his admission that he tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019.

The DILG Secretary on Sunday attended the briefing at Camp Crame before he discovered that he was positive for Covid-19 much later.

"I'm sorry to those who used to be with me during that day, I didn't know that I was positive. I'm asymptomatic and already boosted," Abalos said.

He also ordered the PNP to conduct contact tracing to inform his direct contacts, including those who attended Sunday's press conference in Camp Crame.

With Paula Antolin