Albayalde says Yasay’s arrest part of PNP job to serve warrant

PNP chief Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said Friday that authorities are only fulfilling a mandate to serve the arrest warrant against former Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. in the latter’s residence in Makati City.

“That’s part of our duty. Meron siyang warrant of arrest eh, and I think bailable naman ‘yung kanyang kaso so wala tayong magagawa kasi that’s the order of the court na kailangan siyang arestuhin,” Albayalde said in a chance interview at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

(That’s part of our duty. He has a warrant of arrest, and I think his case is bailable so we cannot do anything but arrest him because that’s the order of the court.)

“Ang alam natin, may order and korte, kasi kapag hindi natin sinunod ‘yung korte, tayo ang tatamaan sa korte and we will be charged accordingly by the court,” he explained.

(What we know is the court has an order, because if we do not follow the court then we will be charged accordingly.)

Albayalde said Yasay also went through the normal booking procedures after his arrest.

The former Cabinet official was arrested on Thursday for allegedly violating Republic Acts 8791 and 7653 or the General Banking Law and the New Central Bank Act, for his alleged involvement in an anomalous loan from Banco Filipino Savings and Mortgages Bank.

READ: Ex-DFA chief Yasay arrested for allegedly violating banking laws

Hours after he was brought under police custody, Yasay was rushed to the Manila Doctors Hospital after experiencing chest pain.

“At 72 years and a survivor of two cancers, it is not easy to live behind bars especially when you are innocent and a victim of abuse of process,” he said in a Facebook post. /jpv