Acierto claims vs Duterte adviser ‘questionable’ – Albayalde

Eduardo Acierto —AP

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) General Oscar Albayalde said it was “highly questionable” that former-Superintendent Eduardo Acierto suddenly came out with claims that two Chinese nationals close to the President were involved in the illegal drugs trade.

READ: Ex-cop linked to P11-B ‘shabu’ smuggling fears for life 

“Unang-una, alam nating lahat na si ex-Col. Acierto ay matagal nang dismissed. [Since] last year ng August…because of corruption charges o yung smuggling ng mga AK47. Hindi ko alam kung anong nasa loobin niya. I think…napaka-questionable nung timing ng paglutang niya?” Albayalde said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer on Tuesday.

“Kung meron talaga siyang mga ganyang information at that time, nasa kanya na lahat ng panahon nung siya ay pinatawag sa Senate,” he added.

Acierto was linked to the alleged smuggling of P11 billion worth of shabu, or crystal meth, into the country.

The former police official was cited in contempt after failing to show up in Senate hearings into the drug-smuggling mess.

READ: Senate cites in contempt 4 linked to drug smuggling 

“Wala akong alam na meron siyang warrant of arrest, kaya pwede siyang lumutang at ibigay ang kanyang salaysay. Noon pa dapat niya ginawa yan, hindi yung nagtago siya,” the police chief said.

Albayalde said he could not remember receiving a confidential report about Chinese nationals Michael Yang and Allan Lim.

Acierto said he prepared the report in August 2017 and submitted it to the then-Director General Ronald dela Rosa, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) head Aaron Aquino and Police Lieutenant General Camilo Cascolan.

The dismissed officer added that copies of the report were also sent to Albayalde, Senator Richard Gordon and the office of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

“Unang-una, ako ay Chief PNP. Sa dami ng reports na dumadating sa akin araw-araw ay hindi ko na matandaan yan,” Albayalde said.

“Kung iyan ay intelligence report, kailangan i-validate yan,” he said.

Albayalde explained that an intelligence report should first be submitted to the Directorate of Intelligence of the PNP.

“Bilang siya ay miyembro ng isang operating unit, kung meron syang highly actionable na information, dapat inaksyonan na yan noon pa,” he said. /cbb