After ‘mistah’ named Army chief, Albayalde says Sinagtala Class ’86 is PMA’s best

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde half-jokingly said on Monday that the appointment of his “mistah” as the next Philippine Army chief proves that the Philippine Military Academy’s Sinagtala class of 1986 is the best.

“Of course we’re really very proud,” Albayalde said of the appointment of Army chief Maj. Gen. Macairog Alberto. “That’s another Class ’86 Sinagtala (member), the best class that the PMA has ever produced.”

“Marami yata ang kumokontra eh, bahala sila, hindi naman sila ang nakaupo eh, kami ang naka-upo, kaya that’s the best class that the PMA has ever produced (There are many who will contradict that, but they are not the ones in power. We are in power, so that’s the best class that the PMA has ever produced.),” a chuckling Albayalde added.

Aside from Albayalde and Alberto, other members of the Sinagtala class include former PNP chief and senatorial candidate Ronald Dela Rosa, Deputy Chief for Operations D/Dir. Gen. Archie Gamboa, Chief of Directorial Staff Dir. Camilo Cascolan, and Director for Operations Dir. Ma.O Aplasca.

Alberto will replace outgoing Lt. Gen. Rolando Bautista Jr., who is being eyed by President Rodrigo Duterte as head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

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“I’d like to congratulate our classmate, I think he deserves the position. Masipag ‘yan at magaling […] tahimik pero deadly. Parang dagat di ba, ‘pag iyan ay tahimik, malalim (He is hardworking and good, silent but deadly. It’s like the sea, if it’s silent, it’s deep),” Albayalde added. /ee