Oscar Albayalde
MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Friday stood by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde amid calls for his resignation in the wake of the killing of 14 farmers in Negros Oriental last week.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the calls for Albayalde to step down are baseless as the operations of the PNP and the Philippine Army that led to the killing of the 14 individuals were legitimate.
“There is absolutely no basis in fact and in law for the PNP Chief, General Oscar Albayalde, to resign,” Panelo said.
“General Albayalde has even acted objectively by relieving administratively ranking officers from their posts just to pave the way for a thorough and impartial investigation free from any possible undue influence and to determine whether lapses were made during the conduct of these operations,” he added.
READ: 4 Negros Oriental police execs relieved amid probe on killing of 14 people
The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives on Wednesday called for Albayalde’s resignation.
Police claimed that the fatalities were actually communist rebels and supporters who violently resisted arrest and were killed in separate encounters.
READ: Lawmakers want PNP chief’s head over Negros farmers’ slay
Panelo also asked the public not be swayed by “leftist propaganda” as he reiterated that the operations were carried out with appropriate court documents.
“Authorities were implementing search warrants that were duly issued by competent courts. In separate police operations, fourteen residents died when they fought with the law enforcers who were just implementing the search orders of the said local courts,” he said.
The Negros Oriental operations are also being investigated by the Commission on Human Rights as victims’ relatives claimed that there was no shootout, contrary to the police report.
“We welcome any investigation on the matter. In the meantime, we urge the public not to be swayed by leftist propaganda, especially those stemming from groups linked with the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army, designed to stigmatize each and every operation of our law enforcers intended to protect the general welfare and safety of the Filipino people,” Panelo said. /gsg