Albayalde admits ‘minimal padrino system’ in PNP

MANILA, Philippines — There‘s still a so-called “padrino system” in the Philippine National Police (PNP), its own chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde said in a press conference in Camp Crame on Wednesday.

“We have to admit that there could be some policemen engaging in the padrino [patronage] system — but only very minimal, unlike before,” Albayalde said, speaking partly in Filipino.

Albayalde noted that they had put in place stricter rules and regulations that, among other things, forbid officers from engaging in patronage — “or they will be administratively charged.”

He noted one indication of the padrino system was the reinstatement of an officer despite his being arrested in a buy-bust operation in Muntinlupa.

The PNP chief was referring to Pat. Leo Valdez who was assigned at the Regional Mobile Force Battalion of the National Capital Region Police Office.

Valdez joined PNP in 2007 but went on absent without official leave (AWOL) in 2014 due to his alleged illegal drug use. He was reinstated in 2017.

READ: Cop busted in Muntinlupa drug sting

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