Albayalde on PNP chief stint: It’s destiny

CALAMBA, Laguna - Weeks before his retirement, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde on Monday expressed belief that his stint as the head of the police force was destiny.

“It’s a destiny. Ito pong pag-chief PNP is a destiny. I never dreamed of becoming a chief PNP. I only wanted to be a general,” Albayalde said during a press conference at the sidelines of an event in Camp Vicente Lim.

Albayalde is confident that he had served the country well despite the issues that he is facing such as the ninja cops controversy.

“But I was given the chance to serve this country and I served well. At nakita po ng taumbayan at ng Presidente noong ako’y RD (regional director). Kaya nga ako naging chief PNP because of performance,” Albayalde said.

For Albayalde, the public should just move on from the issue as “the President has already spoken.”

Albayalde, who is set to retire on November 8, has faced controversy over an allegation that he had intervened in the dismissal of his former subordinates in Pampanga in 2013.

The 13 policemen were accused of being involved in a drug recycling activity. In November 2014, then Region III police director Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta ordered the dismissal of the said cops for grave misconduct.

However, the order was not implemented.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government was directed by President Rodrigo Duterte to investigate Albayalde and the issue on ninja cops.

Duterte underscored that there must be a clear proof that Albayalde is involved in illegal drugs, noting that due process must be followed. — RSJ, GMA News