MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde on Friday apologized to the public for being emotional in an interview aired on television a day before he was quizzed by senators on the controversial anti-drug operation in Pampanga in 2013.
During Wednesday’s interview on Dobol B sa News TV, Albayalde admitted his family is being affected by issues hounding him a month before he retires as the nation’s top cop.
“I miss my family so much. As of this time, ‘yung family ko po ay talagang apektado. Kailangan ko silang makausap. Hindi ko sila kasama ngayon. Kailangan ko silang makausap (my family is really affected. I need to talk to them. They are not with me. I need to talk to them),” he said in that interview.
But over CNN Philippines on Friday, Albayalde apologized for allowing his emotions to swell. He explained that “when it comes to family,” everyone “becomes very emotional.”
“I am sorry I was teary[-eyed] when I was invited [in that interview] two days back. I am really sorry. I apologize to the public on that. I really have to control my emotion because hindi mo pwedeng ipakita sa mga anak mo ‘yan (you can’t show that to your children),” he said.
He added his children are now at the right age and already understand what is happening.
“So they ask you, ‘Dad, why now?’ Ito ‘yung hindi mo maintindihan, kaya ang sabi ko, ang the most na nasisira sa iyo dito is the family,” he added, his voice starting to crack.
(So, they ask you, ‘Dad, why now?’ This is what you won’t understand, so I said, the most that are being destroyed here is the family.)
Albayalde said he rarely sees his family who has been separated from him since 2016 when he assumed the post as regional director (RD) of the National Capital Region Police Office for security reasons, and so that he can focus on his job.
“I see them probably a few days in six months, [or] a few days in a year, and yet nakikita nila lahat ito sa (they see all these in the) news and they just text you, ‘Dad, how are you?’ Ito ang (These are the) repercussions, it goes back to the family,” he added.
He then recounted how he was appointed as the country’s top boss of PNP back in April 2018 even if President Rodrigo Duterte, unlike in the case of other then candidates for PNP chief, does not personally know him.
“Palagi kong sinasabi sa sarili ko [that] I am expendable noong una pa lang na ako ay in-appoint ni Sen. Bato (Ronald Dela Rosa) as RD. Palagi niya sinasabi sa akin ‘Bok, RD ka ng NCR. I will be your show window.’ Sabi ko ‘Yes, Sir, I will not betray your trust and confidence,’” he added.
(I always tell myself that I am expendable even when I was appointed by Sen. Bato as RD. He always tells me, ‘You are the RD of the NCR. I will be your show window.’ I told him, ‘Yes, Sir, I will not betray your trust and confidence.’)
“That is the very reason kaya ako naging Chief PNP. The President doesn’t even know me so bakit n’ya ako gawin [na PNP chief]? In all our efforts when I was RD and then suddenly now, and all of a sudden naglaho lahat na parang bula,” said Albayalde.
(That is the very reason why I became Chief PNP. The President doesn’t even know me so why would he make me [PNP chief]? In all our efforts when I was RD and then suddenly now, and all of a sudden everything disappeared like bubble.)
A few moments after saying he suspects politics within the police force to be behind him being dragged in the controversy, he then pointed out that the problem in the PNP is not solely on new recruits but on police officials holding top posts in the organization.
“The problem is the officers’ corps. We also have a problem with the officers’ corps. That I want to address also,” he concluded.
READ: Albayalde sees PNP politics behind ‘ninja cops’ controversy
/kga