Senators divided on Albayalde resignation calls

Senators were divided Wednesday on whether Philippine National Police chief Police General Oscar Albayalde should resign or take a leave of absence a month before his retirement amid the issue of agaw-bato or drug recycling scheme by his former men.

Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Blue Ribbon and Justice committees which conducted the hearing, said Albayalde should consider resigning from his post.

“He should consider that dahil unang una (isang) buwan na lang siya eh, ang sama ng timing. He should consider that option na mag-resign,” Gordon told reporters.

“He is the head of the PNP. The whole PNP is now under question on  very, very important issue—ninja cops. Kapag hindi niya maipaliwanag ‘yan he should really consider resigning. Kaliwa’t kanan eh meron pa ‘yung drug queen na nakatakas, ‘di ba ang daming unsolved cases,” he added when asked to elaborate his statement.

Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said whatever happens, the stint of Albayalde as PNP chief has been tarnished with the allegations one month before he retires.

“It’s a very serious allegation. Given the tokhang campaign, which has killed thousands of people and supposedly drug dealers, the drug campaign loses its credibility when you hear of these allegations between high-ranking officials of the PNP,” he told reporters.

He added Albayalde should reassess his situation.

“That happened six years ago. I suppose it is a situation which calls for his reassessment of whether he can continue commanding his people for the next 30 days,” said Drilon.

On the other hand, Senate President Vicente Sotto III does not believe Albayalde should take a leave of absence as the matter has nothing to do with the latter’s stint as PNP chief.

“Hindi naman siguro, baka namang ‘ika nga ay in the course of his incumbency, wala namang ganung issue. Wala namang masamang issue, wala namang masamang tinapay na nakita kay Director General Albayalde so ang pinag-uusapan dito was related to something that happened many years ago,” he said.

He also expressed belief that Albayalde’s credibility as the head of the PNP was not affected by the issue.

“As the present chief PNP, I don’t think his credibility is affected. Ibang usapan ‘yung nakaraan, hindi natin masabi kung may value or what, ‘di ba? But we are talking about the present situation, wala akong nakikitang masama,” he said.

Sotto said he still trusts the PNP chief.

“I don’t see anything that involves any untoward issues against General Albayalde from the time he became the PNP chief to the present,” he said.

Sotto said Albayalde should just continue what he is doing.

“Dapat ipagpatuloy lang niya ang trabaho niya. Dapat ‘yan (ninja cops issue) nasa kamay na ng Napolcom at DILG ‘yan, wag na nila abalahin ang sarili nila. Ipagpatuloy lang niya ng trabaho niya at makakasira sa trabaho ng chief PNP ‘yan,” he said. 

Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief, has a similar view with Sotto.

“He has a little over a month to wind up his duties as chief PNP and his remaining days will be mostly spent doing exit calls to his troops in the field  and probably meet with some foreign counterparts based here and abroad,” he said in a text message to reporters.

He added there was not evidence presented that would directly implicate Albayalde to the activities of his men.

“I don’t think it is a practical move for him to retire early. This is not to mention that there is no evidence presented as of now that would implicate him directly or otherwise in the misconduct committed by his men six years ago,” Lacson said.

During the Senate hearing Tuesday, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, a former chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, named the 13 former members of Pampanga police who were allegedly involved in drug recycling in 2013.

Albayalde was the head of Pampanga provincial police office at that time.

Magalong said then PNP chief Alan Purisima asked him to conduct an investigation as the police officers, including Albayalde, allegedly bought new sports utility vehicles after a big buy bust operation.

Albayalde denied the allegations.

Also during the hearing, former Region 3 police chief Aaron Aquino said Albayalde called him to review the dismissal order handed by then Region 3 Police Director Raul Petrasanta against his men. —LDF, GMA News