Lacadin implicates Albayalde in 2013 drug sting in Pampanga

MANILA, Philippines — “Kaunti lang naman ang napunta sa akin dyan.”

(Only a little went to me.)

This was what Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde allegedly told retired General Rudy Lacadin during a previous phone conversation about the probe on the 2013 drug sting rife with irregularities conducted by 13 Pampanga police officers.

The 13 Pampanga policemen were accused of pilfering millions worth of illegal drugs during the 2013 anti-illegal drug operation in Mexico, Pampanga.

Albayalde was then Pampanga police director while Lacadin was then the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) deputy director for operations for Region III.

During a Senate probe on the so-called “ninja cops” on Wednesday, Lacadin recalled that he conducted an investigation on the 13 Pampanga policemen for “validation.”

While he cannot recall the exact date of the phone conversation, Lacadin said Albayalde called him to ask about ongoing investigation.

“During the time of the investigation I am conducting, he (Albayalde) called me up, actually, and ang usapan, ang naalala ko is that ‘Sir, naimbestigahan niyo raw kami (Our conversation was he told me ’Sir, I heard you are investigating us),” Lacadin said.

“‘If you have nothing to hide, wala naman kayong dapat katakutan (you have nothing to fear),” Lacadin recalled telling Albayalde.

“And sabi niya, I don’t know if he’s joking, ‘actually, sir, kaunti lang naman ang napunta sa akin diyan (And then he said, I don’t know if he’s joking ‘actually, I only got little),” the former CIDG official further recounted.

Albayalde was quick to deny the Lacadin’s allegation, pointing out that there seems to be a “conspiracy” to “gang up” on him.

“I really don’t know kung ano ‘yung conspiracy dito. It seems that everybody is ganging up on me. It’s very unlikely naman na General Lacadin ay sasabihan ko siya,” the PNP chief said.

(I really don’t know what the conspiracy here is. It seems that everybody is ganging up on me. It’s very unlikely for me to talk to General Lacadin.)

“Hindi ko po alam kung ano yung against nya sa akin, pero kung sabihin mong sinabi ko yun, ang tanong ko uli, why was I not charged?” he added.

(I don’t know his gripes against me but if he maintains that I said that, I again ask, why was I not charged?)

In 2014, Albayalde was relieved from his post as Pampanga police director for command responsibility for the drug sting conducted by his subordinates. /je

READ: Albayalde denies hand in 2013 Mexico, Pampanga buy-bust