PNP thinks some narcopoliticians won in polls for playing ‘Robin Hood’

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde on Friday admitted the possibility that some narcopoliticians won in the midterm elections because their constituents saw them as a modern day "Robin Hood," helping the poor with supposedly stolen funds.

Interviewed on Cabinet Report sa Teleradyo, Albayalde said it is possible that these politicians have been playing "Robin Hood" in their jurisdictions, or using stolen funds to serve their people.

"Well, iba po kasi talaga siguro iyong political atmosphere sa local ‘no. At siguro talaga itong mga taong ito ay nakatanim na po, nakapagtanim na doon sa kani-kanilang mga constituents sa kanilang mga lugar," Albayalde told Communications Secretary Martin Andanar and PCOO Assistant Secretary Kris Ablan.

"And of course, most probably talaga pong ito ay mga pina-patronize na even before itong mga tao na ito. At mayroon po tayong sinasabi diyan na baka itong namang mga ito, ito mga Robinhood ika nga sa kanilang mga lugar," he added.

The PNP earlier in the week revealed that of the 47 politicians in the narco-list, 37 run and 27 won in the elections.

Antonio Contreras, a Political Science Professor at De La Salle University, seconded the claims of Albayalde.

"Tama naman si Chief Albayalde na talagang ano sila eh, they deliver the... even if they are doing it, or they’re maybe doing it, they also deliver on good governance, parang ganoon. Puwede naman kasi iyon eh. Puwedeng kasama ka doon sa narco list pero maganda ang performance. Mayroon naman, iyon nga, baka naman iyong sinasabi ni Asec., baka ito ay Robinhood," Contreras said.

Albayalde said the PNP will continue to investigate and gather evidence to file the appropriate charges against the narcopoliticians.

The PNP chief also admitted that very few have served as witnesses against lawmakers who were allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

"Actually, ang pinakamahirap po talaga is iyong pagkalap ng ebidensiya dahil wala pong gustong mag-witness sa mga ganiyan ‘no. Napakahirap po talaga. Ito po iyong isang mahirap makuha, iyong ebidensiya laban sa kanila," he said. — MDM, GMA News