Albayalde a ‘man of integrity,’ remains in ‘full trust, confidence’ of Duterte – Palace

MANILA, Philippines — With the issue of drug recycling hounding the police force, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde remains “in full trust and confidence” of the President.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said this in a Palace briefing on Thursday when asked if the President still trusts Albayalde in light of recent allegations that high-ranking police officials are involved in the recycling of illegal drugs.

“Until such time as the President says otherwise, he remains in full trust and confidence of the Commander-in-Chief,” Panelo said.

According to the Palace official, Albayadle told Duterte in a meeting that the “ninja cops” syndicate has already been dismantled during the term of former top cop and now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

“Personally, I believe in what he’s saying, why? Because Gen. Albayalde has developed a reputation for a man of integrity,” Panelo said.

“Yan ang reputasyon niya, nung kahit na hindi pa siya chief, naririnig ko na ang kanyang character,” he added.

The PNP had also earlier said that dragging Albayalde’s name in the “ninja cops” issue could be a mere attempt to tarnish his name.

READ: PNP says dragging Albayalde in drug recycling an attempt to tarnish his name

“Even the chief of the PNP has denied all these insinuations and allegations against him, and he said these are issues in the past and it seems that they are coming out again, and [these are] maybe an attempt to tarnish his name,” PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a television interview.

There have been speculations that Albayalde was among those mentioned as one of the police officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs during an executive session of the Senate justice and human rights committee last week.

READ: Magalong: Cops, convicted drug lords recycle ‘bato’

On Tuesday, senators have agreed to authorize the committee, chaired by Senator Richard Gordon, to divulge the contents of that executive session.

READ: Senate OKs release of executive session contents on ‘ninja cops’ 

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Duterte’s former aide, said he was instructed by the President to secure a copy of the transcript of the executive session.   /muf