Politics getting in way of PNP’s intel funds, Albayalde claims

Politics is getting in the way of the Philippine National Police's bid to have more allocations for its intelligence and information gathering systems, PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said on Friday.

"Alam mo naman 'yung politics sa atin. That’s one hindrance minsan kung bakit hindi tayo makakuha at hindi natin maipresenta sa budget natin iyon," Albayalde told reporters.

"Kasi there are well political hindrances dito, may mga political obstacles," he added.

Albayalde said the PNP needed to invest in modern intelligence equipment to address the communist insurgency and terrorism.

"Remember, we have a problem not only on communist movement but also doon sa different threat groups in Mindanao, particularly 'yung affiliated sa ISIS and Abu Sayyaf Group," Albayalde said.

"Nag-iba na 'yung playing field dito. We have one incident already when there is a suicide bomber na local, na Filipino... so kailangan na natin talagang pagtuunan ng pansin ito," he added.

Under the 2020 proposed budget, the PNP is seeking a total of P184.9 billion.

Of that amount, P546 million will fund the implementation of the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drug Strategy led by the Dangerous Drugs Board.

The hearing for the PNP budget, under the Department of the Interior and Local Government, is scheduled on Monday, September 2. —NB, GMA News