Albayalde denies ‘selective cleansing’ in PNP: Cops involved in Pampanga drug ops were never favored

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde on Wednesday denied the claim of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong Jr. regarding the "selective cleansing" in the police force.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, Albayalde explained that the policemen who were supposedly involved in the reselling of seized drugs in Pampanga in 2013 were never favored.

Albayalde pointed out that records would negate Magalong's claim about selective justice in the PNP, noting that these were merely accusations.

"Ako po ay umupo ng chief PNP ng April 2018, the only time na ito ang mga ito ay nasa Mindanao... the only time na na-transfer sila sa ibang regions, which we do for everybody, ay noong August lang kung di ako magkamali..." Albayalde said.

"Why? Because meron po akong natanggap na sulat from the court invoking Section 91 of 9165 na hindi mo puwedeng tanggalin ang isang law enforcer sa isang jurisdiction when they are witnesses to cases of illegal drugs..." he added.

"Just the same di ko pinagbigyan totally ang court doon. Ang request sa atin ng court doon ibalik sila sa Region 3. What we did instead is ibalik sila, ikalat sila sa I and IV..." Albayalde said.

Albayalde further said these police officers were placed under strict monitoring.

During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Magalong, former chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said policemen who were administratively charged for grave misconduct eventually found themselves in cushy posts in the PNP.

Magalong said the police officers involved were initially recommended dismissed but were eventually retained although demoted by a rank.

"Considering the gravity of the offense, bakit pinagayan natin na maging demotion na lang? Before we launch an extensive and aggressive campaign, maglinis muna tayo ng bakuran natin,” Magalong had said.

Baloyo

In the same interview on Dobol b sa News TV, Albayalde also pointed out that Police Lieutenant Colonel Rodney Raymundo Louie Baloyo, who led the police officers in the controversial Pampanga drug raid, never became a chief of police.

Albayalde said Baloyo only became a deputy provincial director for operations while he was in Mindanao.

He added that Baloyo only became a deputy chief of police when he was deployed in Region IV-A. — RSJ, GMA News