PNP cannot influence Napolcom probe on Albayalde

November 4, 2019

The Philippine National Police (PNP) cannot influence the probe conducted by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) against former PNP chief Police General Oscar Albayalde over the controversial 2013 Pampanga drug raid.

Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa, the PNP officer-in-charge, said he cannot sit as an ex-oficio commissioner of Napolcom.

''At least when the Napolcom release the results, I think you cannot say that PNP is behind (it) because the only probable participation of the PNP in the commission is when the chief PNP sits as the ex-oficio commissioner of Napolcom which I don’t have that power,” Gamboa said Monday in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

“The work of Napolcom is purely Napolcom without the CPNP ( chief PNP) or the OIC sitting as an ex-oficio member,” he said.

In a news report last week, Napolcom vice chairman Rogelio Casurao said they submitted their fact-finding report to Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano.

Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, the DILG spokesperson, said they may release the result this week.

Gamboa said it will be up to the public to react once the investigation against Albayalde is done.

“Let the people speak because if it’s me, it will be biased. So will see what the people will speak about and what is their appreciation on the things happening in the PNP,” he said.

Gamboa said he is requesting the Napolcom to invite him to discuss other PNP policies.

“I would like to request the commission to invite me not because of the investigation but because of other policies that requires priority attention of the commission. Like Internal Affairs Service, it will require a Napolcom resolution to empower them,” he said.

“Another is the probable two-star rank for all regional directors. I want to pursue that and I can only pursue that intelligently and with a debate if I will be invited and sit down in the commission,” he added. Ella Dionisio/DMS