Albayalde denied involvement in Pampanga drug ops before PNP promotion board —Magalong

Philippine National Police Chief Police General Oscar Albayalde denied his involvement in a questionable drug operation in Pampanga in 2013 during his interview with the PNP’s promotion board prior to his selection as the new police chief, former PNP-Crime Investigation and Detection Group chief Benjamin Magalong claimed.

In an interview with Raffy Tima for Balitanghali on Monday, Magalong, who is currently Mayor of Baguio City, said that Albayalde told the PNP’s selection board that he had nothing to do with the alleged drug recycling operation in Mexico, Pampanga.

“Humarap siya sa board to justify ‘yung kanyang promotion. Nagtanong 'yung selection board, yung board of generals that recommends your promotion. Eh puro denial lang e na wala siyang alam, wala siyang kinalaman, hindi niya alam ‘yun. Even before na hindi [raw] siya makagalaw dahil ni-relieve siya,” he said.

“Pero kung titingnan mo, November nangyari ‘yung insidente and he was relieved March—three months. May pagkakataon siyang ayusin, i-correct ‘yung nangyari doon, mag-conduct ng sarili niyang investigation,” he added.

Magalong said he had raised the issue before the promotion board during the selection process for the new PNP chief. "Pero in spite of that siya pa rin ang pinili, so wala na ako, hindi na sa akin 'yon," he said, referring to Albayalde's saying that the allegations against him had to do with "politics" within the PNP.

Magalong previously told the Senate that Albayalde, who was the provincial director of the Pampanga police in 2013, intervened in the dismissal of the cops who were involved in the recycling of seized illegal drugs. 

However, Magalong insisted that his exposé had nothing to do with politics, calling Albayalde’s accusation illogical and based on “pure imagination.” 

GMA News Online is trying to reach the PNP for comment. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News