PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde. INQUIRER PHOTO/ JAM STA ROSA
A high-ranking police official disclosed Friday that it was Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde who ordered the pull-out of police security personnel assigned to Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
Earlier reports said the two police security detail for Trillanes were recalled the same day that Proclamation No. 572, issued by President Rodrigo Duterte to revoke the senator’s amnesty and order his arrest, was published via an advertisement in a broadsheet on September 4.
READ: PNP removes Trillanes’ police security detail
Sought for confirmation of the report, Chief Supt. Filmore Escobal, director of PNP-Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) told INQUIRER.net: “Yes, September 4 din (also) [when the proclamation was issued].”
But when asked if Albayalde’s order was in any way related to the revocation of Trillanes’ amnesty, Escobal said: “Basta (It’s just that) I was given the instructions.”
He then said that Albayalde also did not explain to him why the police security detail of Trillanes had to be recalled.
He said it should be Albayalde who should be asked regarding the matter.
INQUIRER.net is still seeking comment from Albayalde about the issue, as of this posting. /kga