Duterte accepts Aguirre resignation, names Albayalde new PNP chief

April 5, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte announced Thursday that he has accepted the resignation of Vitaliano Aguirre II as justice secretary and named National Capitol Region Police Director Oscar Albayalde as the new national police chief.

Duterte made the announcements during his speech at the awarding ceremony of the search for the country's outstanding coastal community led by the Department of Agriculture held in Malacnanang.

"I accepted the resignation of Vit Aguirre, my fraternity brother, as Secretary of Justice. I am now in the hustings looking for a replacement," he said

Aguirre has been under fire after state prosecutors, who are under the Department of Justice (DOJ), dismissed complaints against two suspected drug lords.

Prior to Duterte's announcement, Aguirre still attended the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

In a press briefing earlier in the day, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that during the seven-hour Cabinet meeting, he did not see any indication that Aguirre was on the way out.

Reports circulated as early as Tuesday that Aguirre would be fired from his post. 

"He is the man for you, the stricter the better," said Duterte of Albyalde, who will replace Director General Ronald dela Rosa. Dela Rosa was supposed to retire in January but his term was extended by Duterte.

Albayalde had been going around Metro Manila, relieving some police chiefs for failing for act on crimes in their area. Celerina Monte/DMS