Gordon: Albayalde resignation should allow PNP to examine itself

Senator Richard Gordon on Monday said he feels sorry that Philippine National Police chief Police General Oscar Albayalde had to resign over the ninja cops issue but added this action should allow the police organization to reexamine itself.

“A little bit sorry na nangyari sa kanya ito. It happened talaga dahil napakalaking kaso nito," Gordon said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV aired on GMA News TV.

"I think his resignation will allow the PNP to reexamine itself para tignan sino ang mabubuting tao na puwedeng ilagay diyan talaga at ‘wag na nilang patulan ‘yang mga ninja cops, hulidap, o pinaiikot ang droga,” said Gordon, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee that conducted an inquiry into the issue jointly with the justice panel.

In a speech after the flag ceremony at Camp Crame, Albayalde said he would relinquish his post and go on a non-duty status which will be effective Monday.

"After careful thought and deliberation, I have come to the decision to relinquish my post as Chief, PNP effective today and go on a non-duty status. I have submitted my letter of intent to [Interior] Secretary [Eduardo] Año which he accepted and favorably endorsed to the President," Albayalde said.

Gordon added the PNP should stop its practice of protecting classmates or prioritizing loyalty to fellow officers.

“They must punish on the basis of (the welfare of) the country and not loyalty to a class or loyalty sa kabaro. Dapat talaga bigyan ng matinding katarungan ito.  Ito ay malaking dagok sa integridad at paniniwala ng tao sa kanila,” he said.

During the previous hearings of the blue ribbon and justice committees, Albayalde was accused of intervening for some Pampanga police officers allegedly involved in drug recycling when he asked that their dismissal order not be implemented.

Albayalde was the Pampanga provincial police director when the November 2013 buy-bust operation was conducted.

In 2016, Albayalde, then National Capital Region Police Office regional director, called then Region 3 Police Office chief Aaron Aquino and asked the latter not to implement yet the dismissal order.

Gordon said Albayalde should also reexamine himself and the cases he might face because of the incident.

“Ito ay pagkakataon na on the part of General Albayalde. I hope he will give it a time to really examine his positionAnd eventually there will be a case against him. He should get a very good lawyer,” he said.

Gordon added that the committee report on the investigation would be released either on Wednesday or Thursday.

“Ilalabas ko na ang committee report ko either Wednesday or Thursday. Pinag-aaralan namin at habang pinag-aaralan ‘yan meron pa kaming kinukuhang ibang ebidensiya na mahalaga,” he said.

The senator reiterated that charges would be recommended against Albayalde.

“It could be anywhere from negligence, neglect of duty. It could be corruption kung nakinabang siya. Maaaring magkaroon pa ng conspiracy at kung mangyari ‘yun, baka mas matindi pa. Baka makasama pa siya sa drug cases na ipa-file especially sa mga kasama niya,” he said.

Gordon added that more than the charges that will be recommended, the focus should be on how to cure the police and military from their loyalty to their own.

“But more than just Albayalde and all these cops, ang dapat pag-isipan kung paano natin iku-cure ang PNP, PNPA [Philippine National Police Academy], at possibly even military dahil gusto rin naman nila, dapat inuuna ang bansa. Pero merong natitira na merong kabaro o kaklase ang pinagbibigyan,” he said. —Amita Legaspi/KG, GMA News