PH National Police chief resigns amid ‘drug recycling’ scandal
SENATOR Richard Gordon said on Monday that it would be a “national disappointment” if Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte allowed former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde to go scot-free despite damaging evidence linking him to “recycling” confiscated drugs.
The allegation has put in question the government’s anti-narcotics campaign.
Amid allegations of protecting policemen accused of selling a huge haul of seized shabu (crystal methamphetamine), Albayalde stepped down on Monday, three weeks ahead of his retirement.
“After careful thought and deliberation, I have decided to relinquish my post as chief PNP effective today and go on non-duty status.
“Since I am retiring compulsorily on November 8, this will pave the way for the appointment of my replacement,” he said in a speech during a flag-raising ceremony at PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
“Non-duty status” is the equivalent in the PNP of terminal leave.
Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said this was the first time a PNP chief had gone on terminal leave.
And because he had already stepped down, Albayalde may no longer be given retirement honours, which had been scheduled for October 29, Banac said.
A “simple” turnover ceremony was held on Monday, with Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano overseeing the assumption of Archie Gamboa, the PNP deputy chief for operations, as an officer in charge.
Just before Albayalde announced his decision, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said the police general went on terminal leave on Duterte’s advice.
“[ The president] did not ask him to resign, but just to take terminal leave,” said Go, Duterte’s former long-time aide.
Go said the president relayed his advice to Albayalde through Ano during a meeting between the president and the home affairs chief early on Saturday.
He said Ano and Albayalde met on Saturday afternoon and Sunday, Albayalde sent a letter to Malacanang informing the Palace that he was going on terminal leave until his retirement on November 8.
The president had not lost trust in Albayalde. “He just wants the PNP to buckle down to work without having any baggage to carry,” Go said.
But in his speech on Monday, Albayalde said he informed Ano of his decision to step down during their discussion over the weekend of the Senate investigation of the pilfering of seized drugs by rogue policemen, who sell these back on the black market.
His early departure came days after two former police officials implicated him in a raid in Pampanga in which 13 officers allegedly seized and then sold parts of a large haul of shabu in November 2013, when he was the police chief of the province.
Albayalde has vehemently denied the allegations and warned the witnesses that he will take legal action against them.
In his speech on Monday, Albayalde insisted on his innocence, saying the allegations of the witnesses “were inspired by the publicity [that had] accompanied the Senate investigation”.
But Gordon, chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee that is investigating the scandal, on Monday said the inquiry had gathered enough evidence to prompt Duterte to order the Department of Justice to bring complaints against Albayalde and the 13 policemen.
“As far as I’m concerned, this is a good opportunity for the president to make a clean breast of it all and to show that he doesn’t protect anyone, even uniformed personnel when it comes to the issue of corruption,” Gordon said.