How ‘drug pilfering’ six years ago haunted PNP in 2019

PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde attends Senate hearing on the so-called ninja cops on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019. INQUIRER.NET PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — As if the controversy on alleged vigilante-style killings on drug suspects was not enough, the Philippine National Police (PNP) this year found itself grappling with another issue so huge that it altered the PNP leadership, even forcing its chief to step down from his post.

The alleged recycling of some 162 kilograms of crystal meth or shabu, priced at P1.1 billion in today’s local market, in Mexico, Pampanga on November 29, 2013 resurfaced six years later, haunting then provincial director and now retired Gen. Oscar Albayalde, even over a month before his retirement.

After several times of distressing appearances at Senate investigations, Albayalde announced before his subordinates at a flag raising ceremony in Camp Crame on October 14 that he availed of non-duty status—a privilege that can be taken by all police officers three months before they retire. This meant he technically vacated his post as the nation’s top police official.

READ: Albayalde steps down as PNP chief

During his last speech as PNP chief, he urged the 190,000-strong police force to “not let these challenges demoralize or stray you from your path.”

But this seems to be not the case, as the PNP Drug Enforcement Group later revealed the drug recycling issue, which angered no less than President Rodrigo Duterte himself, was among the controversies that seem to daunt policemen from joining the prime unit tasked to hunt high-value targets.

READ: ‘Intrigues,’ controversies spook cops from joining PNP’s prime anti-drug unit

Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, the PNP’s second-in-command who became officer-in-charge (OIC) after Albayalde relinquished his post, also admitted that convincing officers not to be further affected by the issue on ninja cops—or those recycling seized drugs—was a “very big challenge.”

While he skirted administrative cases, Albayalde, who denied any liability, was criminally charged along with 13 former Pampanga policemen for graft, qualified bribery, falsification of public documents, dereliction of duty, and violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The complaint, originally filed in 2014 but dismissed in 2017, had been amended to include Albayalde as a respondent. It was filed by Albayalde’s former men from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group before the Department of Justice on October 21.

READ: Albayalde welcomes raps: ‘At least I will be accorded due process now’ |Albayalde says he’s implicated in ‘ninja cops’ case ‘by mere association’

Disgruntled generals on massive revamp

Just six days after assuming his post as OIC, Gamboa implemented the largest-ever revamp on the top PNP leadership, affecting 21 senior police officials holding key posts in the national headquarters and regional offices.

The reshuffle, he said, was meant to introduce “new leadership, fresh ideas, and new vigor.”

READ: ‘Major revamp’ implemented in PNP

Aside from the revamp, Gamboa also placed the 21 officials and members of the directorial staff, commanders of national support units, and other regional directors on probation for three months “for them to show that they deserve the position.”

Promotions were likewise put on hold.

READ: PNP top officials on probation for 3 months after major revamp

The abrupt move—a rigodon round as some call it—triggered some senior police officials to grumble.

In a press briefing that followed a day after the reshuffle, Gamboa, explaining grounds for his decision, admitted that the drug recycling mess “has shaken the institution at its core.”

“Not only has it caused displeasure from our President but some doubts on our capability and resolve to serve and protect the people,” he said.

He added: “These are extraordinary times that call for extraordinary measures.”

Still no PNP chief

But even as a number of key officials were reshuffled to new assignments, the most significant post in the PNP remains unoccupied.

Nearly two months since Albayalde officially retired on November 8 upon reaching the age of 56, the President has yet to appoint the 23rd PNP chief.

There are three names currently at the table of Duterte, the top three officials in the organization, namely: Gamboa, also the deputy chief for administration; Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan, deputy chief for operations; and Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, chief of the directorial staff.

READ: Año endorses 3 names to Duterte for next PNP chief

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, however, said Duterte was also considering two more generals not included in his recommendation submitted to the President on October 17.

READ: Duterte also considering 2 more generals to be next PNP chief

Gamboa believes operations of the PNP remain normal even in the absence of an official chief.

Albayalde’s case seemed to have caused Duterte to be more cautious in choosing the next top police official, as he said he would rather lead the police force than appoint anybody who has any single case of corruption.

READ: Duterte mulls taking over top PNP post

Unit probing rogue cops wants breakup

As the police agency found itself entangled with allegations of drug recycling, the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) in charge of investigating police officers engaged in illegal activities wanted to split from the PNP.

IAS Director Alfegar Triambulo said that in other countries, counterparts of the unit are feared by scalawag officers since it is independent from the police organization.

IAS is also an attached unit of the Office of the Chief PNP, giving rise to questions on impartiality in case it has to investigate the top police official himself.

But should the unit probe a PNP chief, it would be a “unique situation not clearly addressed” by its charter, said PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which re-investigated the alleged drug recycling case in Pampanga, earlier proposed that IAS be moved under the supervision of the Office of the Ombudsman or the Department of Justice.

This proposal, however, seemed not pleasing for the PNP, as Banac said IAS should remain under the police organization for “convenience and to facilitate easy communication and coordination.”

READ: It’s best for IAS to remain under PNP – Banac

But if the PNP is asked for another option, he said they may suggest that the unit be placed under the National Police Commission (Napolcom) also supervising the police force “because we belong to one family.”

Napolcom Vice Chairman Rogelio Casurao called this suggestion a “welcome move” since it will still provide the independence IAS was seeking.

Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), meanwhile said that instead of separating the unit from the PNP, it may report directly to Año and have its decisions immediately executory.

READ: DILG: Detaching unit probing rogue cops from PNP may be unnecessary 

22 ninja cops still off the hook

Before he retired, Albayalde in September revealed the PNP is closely monitoring 22 alleged ninja cops from the previous 87 in 2016.

Three of them are commissioned officers, or those with the ranks of Police Lieutenant to General, and 19 are non-commissioned officers, or those with the ranks of Patrolman or Patrolwoman to Police Executive Master Sergeant.

Of all the 22, the highest-ranking officer is a Major, the third lowest rank for commissioned police officers, while two are Lieutenants. Five of them are in Metro Manila.

The newly-minted PNP – Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group is tasked to monitor these ninja cops.

READ: War on drugs: PNP closely monitoring 22 ‘ninja cops’

Over two months since Albayalde bared these numbers, Banac said the 22 officers seemed to have laid low their crooked activities as the issue on drug recycling hogged the headlines. Nevertheless, he said the monitoring continues.

To recall, when the controversy was at its peak, Duterte in October told ninja cops that he can be “more evil” than they are.

A month before, he warned that they will die first.

“Well, I’m sorry to tell you, everybody dies in this world but you will go ahead first. Remember that,” the President said.

READ: Duterte to ‘ninja cops’: You’ll die first

Edited by JE