Albayalde was not forced to resign – Año

Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2019 09:14:46 +0000

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año denied Tuesday that pressure was exerted on former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Oscar Albayalde to give up his position.

Even if Albayalde was being linked to the “ninja cops” controversy by some ex-police generals, Año confirmed that President Duterte still had complete trust and confidence in him.

He reiterated that Albayalde was never forced to give up his top PNP post as the President was satisfied with his performance.

Año confirmed that Albayalde, who was due for retirement on November 8, had already expressed his desire to give up his post last week.

He said he advised Albayalde to give it much thought after the embattled then PNP chief last Wednesday told him that he was already contemplating on relinquishing his post.

But last Saturday, Año said he had a serious talk with Albayalde and this was when the latter formally submitted his resignation letter.

CREDIBILITY DOUBTED

A lot of policemen have already doubted the credibility of Albayalde on whether or not he is tainted on the allegations of recycling of more than 160 kilos of shabu and in benefiting from the missing R60 million money from a freed drug lord in Pampanga in 2013.

Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, Officer-In-Charge of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said they could not blame those policemen since they are also entitled to their opinion based on the conduct of the Senate investigation on the issue of drug recycling.

“I would be honest, yes probably (some policemen doubted Albayalde’s credibility). Policemen are also human beings but then I said your opinion as an individual should be distinct and separate from the organization,” said Gamboa in an interview over ANC.

Albayalde quit his post as PNP Chief on Monday and went on Non-Duty Status until he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56 on November 8 amid allegations that he benefitted from the anomalous drug raid in Pampanga in 2013 when he was still the provincial director.

A retired police general said Albayalde intervened in the dismissal of the 13 cops involved in the operation while another retired general said he admitted to getting a little from the drug raid.

Gamboa also admitted that the controversy that hounded Albayalde indeed affected the PNP.