Albayalde says inclusion in CIDG complaint to accord him due process

Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde on Monday said his inclusion as respondent in the police's amended complaint filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) would afford him due process.

"At least I will be accorded due process now," Albayalde told reporters when sought for comment after the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) named him respondent in its complaint.

The amended complaint contained new charges for violation of Section 92 of the dangerous drugs law, graft, qualified bribery, perjury, falsification of public documents, and dereliction of duty, but it was not immediately clear which offenses Albayalde was made a respondent to.

Albayalde is the 14th respondent in the complaint that originally sought the prosecution, for drug offenses, of 13 police officers allegedly involved in a controversial operation in Mexico, Pampanga in 2013 — a supposed case of policemen “recycling” illegal drugs seized in legitimate operations.

In an interview on Balitanghali, PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said the police force would let due process takes its course on Albayalde's case.

"Hinahayaan ng Philippine National Police na umusad ang proseso at gumulong ang hustisya para sa lahat ng akusado," Banac said.

Albayalde was Pampanga police chief at the time of the operation.

Prosecutors dismissed the original complaint against the 13 policemen, but Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra recently ordered a reinvestigation following a Senate probe that revealed alleged irregularities in the operation.

The CIDG added Albayalde as a respondent days after two Senate committees recommended that he be charged in connection with the 2013 incident.

Albayalde stepped down from his post as PNP chief last week. He was supposed to retire on November 8.

Albayalde was accused of intervening in the implementation of the dismissal order against the 13 policemen. It was also bared during the Senate inquiry that he had acquired a small portion from the operation.

The former PNP chief had denied all the accusations. —KBK, GMA News