PNP believes it’s ‘slowly regaining’ public’s trust after drug recycling mess

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) believes it has now regained the trust of the public, weeks after its former chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde stepped down from his post amid the issue on drug recycling within the police organization.

“I am convinced yes, slowly,” Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, PNP officer-in-charge, said in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday when asked of the matter.

He said he will “let the people speak” whether or not the investigation on Albayalde and the policemen involved in an alleged drug recycling case in Pampanga in 2013 will further help the PNP regain its credibility and integrity.

“We’ll see what the people will do, what the people will speak about and kung ano ‘yung appreciation nila (what will be their appreciation) on the things that is happening in the PNP,” he said.

Gamboa also assured that the investigation on Albayalde will be fair, since when Albayalde resigned, the latter also stepped down from being an ex-officio member of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) conducting the probe.

As OIC of the PNP, Gamboa neither has the power to sit as an ex-officio member at the Napolcom.

The Napolcom eyes to finish its investigation before Albayalde’s retirement from the police service on November 8, so that the body will not lose jurisdiction over him. /je