Albayalde: CIDG chief face relief if found meddling in politics

Police General Oscar Albayalde. INQUIRER.NET

MANILA, Philippines — The head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) could be charged and relieved from his post if found meddling in politics, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Oscar Albayalde said Wednesday.

CIDG chief Major General Amador Corpus’s wife is running for a congressional seat in the May 13 polls yet he remained at his post even though the PNP reassigned its officers that were related by blood or affinity to candidates in their places of assignment as of proof of its being “nonpartisan.”

READ: PNP reshuffles 1,370 cops related to candidates in May polls

READ: PNP policy: Cops related to politicos reshuffled

“Besides being relieved, he (Corpus) can be charged for electioneering,” Albayalde told INQUIRER.net in a text message when asked what would be the consequences faced by Corpus.

However, Albayalde stood by Corpus.

“General Corpus is a very professional police officer. He fully knows our policy of nonpartisanship, especially during elections,” Albayalde said in a separate text message.

“General Corpus knows the consequences if he meddles with politics in Abra,” he added.

He also said that it was just “coincidence” that Corpus was the CIDG chief and his wife was running for Congress.

The CIDG’s manpower in a province cannot possibly influence the outcome of an election, Albayalde said.

“CIDG’s strength in a province is only about 7 to 10 personnel especially in small provinces,” he said.

“So how could he influence the outcome of the election in the province or in the district where his wife is running with that very small number of personnel?” Albayalde further asked. /cbb