CL police chief recommends sacking of cop in drug bust scam

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The  police director in Central Luzon has recommended the relief of Senior Supt. Oscar Albayalde, the Pampanga police director, for command responsibility over an anomalous buy-bust operation against a suspected illegal drugs dealer in Mexico town last year.

“[It is] due to [Albayalde’s] failure to take corrective action at his level despite the chance given to him to do so,”  Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta, regional police director, said to explain the official’s relief.

In a statement, Petrasanta announced that former provincial intelligence branch head Supt. Rodney Baloyo, provincial anti-illegal drugs special operations task force head Senior Insp. Joven de Guzman Jr. and 11 men directly under him had been charged on March 11 with violating Section 27 of Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

De Guzman’s group allegedly took two bags of shabu and a vault from Ding Wenkun in a house he rented at Lakeshore Estate on Nov. 29, 2013. The group allegedly extorted money from Wenkun before allowing him to escape.

Section 27 refers to the “criminal liability of a public officer or employee for misappropriation, misapplication or failure to account for the confiscated, seized and/or surrendered dangerous drugs, plant sources of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals, instruments or paraphernalia and/or laboratory equipment including the proceeds or properties obtained from the unlawful act committed.”

This carries a penalty of life imprisonment, a fine from P500,000 to P10 million and disqualification from public office.

Albayalde said the decision to relieve him was up to higher authorities. The endorsement was sent to the Philippine National Police chief,  Director General Alan Purisima.

But Gov. Lilia Pineda has praised Albayalde for involving village leaders in maintaining peace and order and for ensuring prompt disaster response.

Petrasanta said the operations of De Guzman’s group were similar to the “Agaw Bato” racket attributed to the group of Supt. Bienvenido Reydado, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Pampanga province.  Reydado has denied the allegations.

Petrasanta said the move to dismiss and discipline police officers and personnel was “a manifestation of the keen determination of the PNP to remove misfits among [its] ranks.” Reports from Tonette Orejas and Jun Malig, Inquirer Central Luzon