Albayalde says PNP won’t join oust Duterte moves, loyalty check not needed

The Philippine National Police will not participate in any attempt to oust President Rodrigo Duterte from office, PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde said Wednesday.

Albayalde made the position a day after the President challenged the government's security forces to move to oust him and join Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV in the event that they find the President incompetent.

“Over and over and over, zero sa amin ‘yan rito sa PNP. Wala kaming namo-monitor na whatsoever giving support to Senator Trillanes,” Albayalde said

Trillanes is a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1995, while Albayalde belongs to the PMA Class of 1986.

“Just yesterday, I am in Zamboanga, kasama natin ‘yung mga SAF (Special Action Force). We need not [conduct] loyalty check in our ranks. Alam mo, kapag ganyan, magle-leak yan so on our part, I can really speak on behalf of the PNP, we have not received such information. Class of 1995? The Class of Senator Trillanes are not even solid,” Albayalde said.

“We will always be loyal to the Constitution, to his administration and to the Filipino people. The President has our trust and confidence and we have his trust and confidence," Albayalde added

President Duterte voided the amnesty granted to Trillanes by issuing Proclamation 572 last week. Its legality is based on the argument that Trillanes did not apply for amnesty and did not admit to his past crimes even if Department of Defense records show that Trillanes applied for amnesty, admitted guilt to all violations of all and that the Defense department found his application for amnesty in order.

Trillanes, a former Navy officer, is a staunch critic of the President's drug war and has also accused the Chief Executive of accumulating ill-gotten wealth in the past.

Despite such apparent confidence, Albayalde still warned the police against participating in ouster plots.

“Remember, kung ma-involve ka diyan, you will be facing administrative charges, sanctions. Lahat naman ng government employees, not only the PNP. Hindi kami puwedeng sumali sa mga ganyan, especially sa amin sa uniformed service,” he said.

“If you want to take sides, you resign from the service. You can always resign anytime tapos punta ka 'dun kung gusto niyo,” Albayalde added.

The PNP chief also denied that their loyalty to the President stems from his move of raising their salaries.

“For so long a time we have been requesting for the increase of salary ng ating mga sundalo at kapulisan, and we are thankful to the President that he heeded the call because it is really necessary,” Albayalde said.

Only two women Philippine Presidents have faced and survived multiple coup de 'etat attempts since 1986: the late Corazon Aquino who was President from 1986 to 1992 and former President Gloria Arroyo who ruled the country from 2001 to 2010.

Trillanes led the mutiny against Arroyo twice, in 2003 and 2007. — MDM/KBK, GMA News