PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, October 6, 2019, reiterated the need to give beleaguered Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde due process.
The President, who was asked to comment on calls for Albayalde to resign or retire early, said he would need “clear proof” of the allegations hurled at the police chief.
“We have to..the presumption (of innocence). Eh, yung criminal, binibigyan ng presumption of innocence,” the President said.
“Give me a clear proof na talagang he was there on the take..I have to follow the procedural due process and allow him time to answer, (respect his) right to be heard. It’s given to the criminals, to the kidnappers. It should be given to the general of the Philippine National Police. Because under the rules, we’re all equal,” he added.
Duterte said Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año will study the matter carefully.
Albayalde is set to retire on November 8, 2019.
Duterte said, however, that he has not chosen Albayalde’s successor yet.
“Not yet. Yan ang mahirap, I have to vet. I have to consult everybody. Mayamaya, madapa ka naman tapos ako ang magkaroon ng problema,” he said.
Albayalde was the Pampanga police chief when 13 anti-narcotics policemen under him conducted an operation in November 2013 that was later found to be replete with irregularities. He was relieved over command responsibility.
The 13 policemen, who are accused of being ninja cops or police officers who recycle and sell illegal drugs that they confiscate during their operations, were ordered dismissed in November 2014.
The dismissal order, was served in March 2016, or 16 months later, and the 13 cops subsequently filed a joint motion for reconsideration.
Albayalde, who was then the officer-in-charge of the National Capital Region Police Office, admitted calling then Central Luzon Police Regional Office director Aaron Aquino to ask about the status of the case of the 13 officers.
But Aquino, who is now the director general of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), said Albayalde had asked him to hold the implementation of the dismissal order.
the operation was conducted in 2013, found himself in hot water after it was revealed that he had called Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron Aquino to ask that he put on hold the implementation of the dismissal order.
The 13 cops were eventually demoted by a rank, not dismissed.
Whether he still has trust and confidence in Albayalde, Duterte answered, “He’s still there (as PNP chief). Just give me proof. Kasi, abogado ako (Because I’m a lawyer). You know, there’s a legal maxim that we have to follow: Guilt is personal. Yan ang problema. That is why you have to hear before you condemn.” (MVI/SunStar Philippines)