Albayalde on claim he got SUV after drug ops: Photo or it didn’t happen

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde on Wednesday asked for any proof to support the claim of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong Jr. that he had acquired a sports utility vehicle after a controversial drug buy-bust in Pampanga in 2013.

"Kung may sasakyan, meron po bang pinakita na litrato man lang kung anong sasakyan meron ako. Alam mo napakadaling akusahan ng tao eh," Albayalde said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

In a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Magalong, former chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, disclosed that Albayalde was among the Pampanga police officials who acquired an SUV after the drug operation.

Magalong said he was ordered by then PNP chief Alan Purisima to investigate why the police officers in the drug operation suddenly had SUVs.

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

"Actually nabanggit niya pati ‘yang provincial director nila meron din siya,” Magalong had said.

In the radio interview, Albayalde reiterated that what he had during that time was an old pick-up truck which he bought from his neighbor.

Investigation had bared that the 13 police officers in hot water didn't follow the rules during a police operation, leading to suspicions that they made money from the seized illegal drugs.

They were recommended for dismissal in 2014 but eventually were only demoted by a rank. — MDM, GMA News