Lacson: ‘No direct evidence’ to link Albayalde to drug recycling

MANILA, Philippines —  There’s no direct evidence linking Philippine National Police chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde to alleged recycling of illegal drugs by his former subordinates in Pampanga.

“In fairness to him, there’s really no direct evidence to link him to the recycling of drugs involving his former subordinates while serving as PD Pampanga PNP Provincial Office,”  Senator Panfilo Lacson said in a text message on Monday.

“Not even circumstantial as far as the recycling, possibly only on the cover-up attempt. Even that is weak or at least not sufficient,” he added.

Lacson is among those actively participating in the Senate probe on corruption allegations in the Bureau of Corrections and the reported involvement of some rogue policemen in the illegal drug trade.

As then Pampanga police chief, Albayalde has been accused of allegedly protecting the 13 policemen charged with grave misconduct and ordered dismissed after an anti-drug operation in the province in 2013.

READ: Aquino recants; pins Albayalde on case vs Pampanga cops

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, former head of the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, also alleged that Albayalde got a new sports utility vehicle after the raid.

Albayalde quickly denied the allegations hurled at him.

Despite the allegations,  President Rodrigo Duterte said he wants “clear proof” of the PNP chief’s alleged link to illegal drugs.

“Give me a clear proof that he was indeed there in the trafficking of drugs,” the President said Sunday.

“I could not just do it in a knee-jerk [reaction]. I have to follow procedural due process and allow him time to answer,” he said. “The right to be heard – it’s given to the criminals, to the kidnappers. It should be given to a general of the Philippine National Police.”

READ: Duterte wants ‘clear proof’ vs Albayalde in ‘ninja cops’ case

/kga