Albayalde doesn’t know why old issues surface as retirement nears

September 28, 2019

Six weeks before his retirement, the head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) is still clueless about the sudden burst of issues in the organization especially on illegal drugs.

“I don’t know. I really do not know why the issue diverted on a very old issue and recycled one… Well, as I said it's all part of public service,” Police General Oscar Albayalde told reporters in Baguio City on Saturday.

“I cannot understand. I don’t know why this came out just a few weeks before my retirement,” he said.

Asked if the issue on “drug recycling” is connected to his retirement, Albayalde said he has no idea.

Albayalde's name is being connected to the issue after senators said an active high-ranking official was involved in drug recycling by “ninja cops”.

It can be recalled when Albayalde was provincial director at Pampanga Provincial Police Office in 2014, his officers were involved in the  scheme which resulted in his administrative relief.

 The PNP chief said it is just common while people say they are satisfied in the government’s war on drugs, a few people will discredit them.

“And when you discredit the PNP, that would discredit me also as the father of the PNP,” said Albayalde.

“But as I have said I think in fairness, to be fair to the PNP, to be fair to Senator (Ronald) Bato (Dela Rosa) and to be fair also to our president. This government has been really serious in our campaign against illegal drugs. No ifs and buts on our war on drugs because this is the promise of our president. We are the face of the war on drugs of this administration, the PNP,” he added.

Albayalde is set to retire on November 8 and he told reporters that they we let President Rodrigo Duterte decide on who will be the next PNP chief.

“We don’t want to lead the president since he is not asking us of any names and recommendation. We leave that up to the president,” he said.

In terms of legacy, Albayalde said he will let people judge his accomplishments but he hopes his replacement will continue what he already started.

“Whatever they will say I will accept. For myself I did everything, I gave my best,” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS