Gordon on Albayalde: ‘He’s the one who put himself into doubt’

Metro Manila (AdChoiceTV News, October 4) — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde's own actions put him under hot water, a senator said Friday, amid allegations on the top cop's supposed involvement in an irregular police raid six years ago.

“He’s the one who put himself into doubt. When you put yourself into doubt, we have to ask questions,” Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon told AdChoiceTV News, The Source Friday when asked if he doubts Albayalde’s sincerity in the administration’s war on drugs.

Albayalde has been accused of attempting to block the dismissal of 13 "ninja" or drug-linked cops over a questionable drug sting in Pampanga when he was provincial police chief. The Pampanga policemen supposedly kept 160 kilograms of shabu for themselves and got P50 million and new SUVs in exchange for the freedom of Chinese drug lord Johnson Lee. 

Albayalde allegedly asked then Central Luzon police chief Aaron Aquino to stop carrying out his men's dismissal order, a claim the country's top cop has denied. Albayalde was already Metro Manila police chief at the time.

“I’m not going to prejudge, but all I do is go by evidence. He has a lot to explain… Why would he be making calls when there is a general above him who said remove these people? Why would he tell these are my people?” Gordon said.

The senator cast doubt on Albayalde’s innocence in the issue, citing the police chief’s dismissal for command responsibility during that time.

“The question is why would they be suspended or why would they be removed - if they had nothing to do with it? Why would provincial director Albayalde be relieved from his command if nothing happened?” he said.

Gordon reiterated that the PNP chief should consider resigning as “the police force has been put under question.” Albayalde is set to retire next month.

The lawmaker said his committee eyes the release of its investigation results by next week.

“We’re doing the report as we go on and if we finish today… I hope that we can finalize the report within the coming week and we should be able to do something about it,” he said. - AdChoiceTV News