Clear proof vs Albayalde? We have enough information, says Gordon
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Richard Gordon believes the Senate has enough information to make the President decide on the fate of beleaguered Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde.
Albayalde has been dragged into the alleged “ninja cops” controversy, which is now the subject of investigation by the Senate committee on justice being chaired by Gordon.
But President Rodrigo Duterte said he wants “clear proof” of Albayalde’s link to illegal drugs.
Sought for comment on Duterte’s statement, Gordon said: “I think we have enough information for him to make a decision.”
“But then I still would like to have General Albayalde come forward and answer questions that need to be answered para fair ano? Hindi naman tayo magko-conclude basta-basta na hindi siya sumagot (We won’t conclude on anything just like that without his answers),” he added.
The senator noted for instance the PNP’s supposed failure to answer why he did not contest when he was placed on floating status after an anti-drug operation in Pampanga in 2013.
Albayalde, at that time, was the Pampanga police director.
Gordon also mentioned the testimony of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Mangalong and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Aaron Aquino, who both claimed that Albayalde, then head of the National Capital Regional Police Office, phoned to stop the dismissal order against the 13 Pampanga cops involved in the raid.
READ: Aquino recants; pins Albayalde on case vs Pampanga cops
Aquino was head of the Regional Police Office 3 when a motion for reconsideration on the dismissal order was filet at his office. In 2017, his successor only demoted the Pampanga cops by one rank.
Asked again if there was evidence that would link Albayalde to illegal drug trade, Gordon said: “There are ways of being involved. One is by your negligence, wala kang ginawa (you didn’t do anything), or by you own fault, kasama ka talaga (you were really part of it).”
READ: Albayalde ‘negligent’, Pampanga cops ‘incompetent’ on Nov. 2013 anti-drug ops – Gordon
Pressed further if there was proof against the PNP chief, the senator noted that “a lot of doubts” have been created by all the witnesses in the hearings.
Gordon said Albayalde’s name was among those mentioned in a transcript of the panel’s executive session to the President.
The transcript, he said, includes Magalong’s testimony on the Pampanga raid under Albayalde’s leadership. /je
