Gordon: Albayalde may still face charges even after retirement 

MANILA, Phillippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde may still face charges for his alleged links to the “ninja cops” controversy even as he nears retirement, Senator Richard Gordon said Saturday.

“A lot of people have been telling me, let him retire. We have to lay the standard. I don’t care if you’re retiring,” Gordon said during the “In Focus” forum held in Quezon City.

“If he really is guilty, even if he retires, pwede siyang habulin ni [former PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detention Group head Benjamin Magalong], pwede siyang habulin ng secretary of justice, [He can still be pursued by Magalong, by the secretary of justice],” Gordon added.

It was Magalong who dropped Albayalde’s name in the “ninja cops” probe, after an allegedly irregular anti-drug operation that happened in 2013 was mentioned during a Senate hearing.

READ: Magalong drops Albayalde’s name in ‘ninja cops’ probe

Albayalde is supposed to retire on Nov. 8. However, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said the PNP chief would have to relinquish his post a week earlier, saying President Rodrigo Duterte decided on this as he is set to fly to Bangkok to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit.

READ: 3 eyed to succeed Albayalde

Asked if Gordon will be the one to file the charges against Albayalde, the senator said: “Not me, when you create a crime, it should be called People v. Albayalde.”

“The law says, your retirement is not a bar for criminal prosecution or administrative cases. Automatic yan eh [That’s automatic],” he added.

If Albayalde will be charged, Gordon said the outgoing PNP head may face possible charges for negligence of duty, graft and corruption.  /muf