Bato officially retires, Albayalde assumes command of PNP

Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Thursday officially retired and relinquished his post to Director Oscar Albayalde after taking over the helm of the 190,000-strong police force for almost two years.

President Rodrigo Duterte presided over the change of command ceremony held in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

President Rodrigo Duterte is flanked by outgoing PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and incoming PNP chief Director Oscar Albayalde @gmanews pic.twitter.com/7kydVTa6a7

— Marlly Bondoc (@marllybondoc) April 19, 2018

Duterte conferred the Medalya ng Katapatan sa Paglilingkod and Philippine Legion of Honor on Dela Rosa.

Dela Rosa relinquishes his post to Director Oscar Albayalde @gmanews pic.twitter.com/6pK2K5zAbP

— Marlly Bondoc (@marllybondoc) April 19, 2018

Dela Rosa and Albayalde both belong to the Philippine Military Academy "Sinagtala" Class of 1986. Dela Rosa was supposed to retire on January 21 when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 56 but the President had extended his term for 3 months until April 21.

However, it is not yet clear on why the second extension did not push through. The retiring chief is expected to take over the helm of Bureau of Corrections after his stint at the PNP.

Albayalde, who is a native of San Fernando City, Pampanga, graduated as cum laude of PMA Sinagtala Class of 1986. He started his career in public service when he joined the Philippine Constabulary Special Action Force on June 23, 1986.

He was appointed as the director of the National Capital Region Police Office on July 1, 2016.

Before he was promoted to his current rank as two-star general, Albayalde served as an executive officer of the Directorate for Plans and as Pampanga Provincial Police Office chief.

He has sacked a number of policemen and officials which include the 1,000 police personnel of Caloocan City Police. In his bid to cleanse the police force from erring cops, Albayalde conducts surprise visits to police stations around Metro Manila even in the wee hours.

This even led to the relief of the chiefs of police of Pasay City and Muntinlupa after their police officers at precincts were caught either sleeping or drinking alcohol while on duty.

Caloocan City Police and Manila Police District (MPD) Station 11 have also been relieved from their posts over "unsolved series of incidents" while the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 10 commander was also removed from his post "for having a filthy station."

Albayalde is set to retire on November 8, 2019. —KG, GMA News