Albayalde on PNP reshuffle: Not so fast

Incoming PNP chief Director Oscar Albayalde during a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City. INQUIRER.net FILE / NOY MORCOSO

Incoming police chief Director Oscar Albayalde is not keen on implementing a major revamp in the Philippine National Police (PNP) immediately after assuming his new role on April 19.

Albayalde said Wednesday that he would first form an oversight committee to review the organizational composition of the PNP and evaluate whether key officials need to be reshuffled, noting that it would be in bad taste if he would immediately order such.

“Hindi pa natin masabi yan [balasahan]. I cannot decide on my own. Kailangan din natin yung ginawa sa NCR. Probably will be activating our oversight committee kung talagang papalitan o hindi,” Albayalde said in a chance interview at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

(I still cannot guarantee that. I cannot decide on my own. We might also need to do what we have done in NCR. Probably we will be activating our oversight committee to study if we will replace officials or not.)

“Masama naman yung pagdating mo diyan na basta-basta ka nagpapalit porket bagong head ka. I think it’s not proper. There should be deliberation and evaluation,” he added.

(It would look bad if you assume office and you immediately replace officials just because you are the new head. I think it’s not proper.)

Albayalde will assume as the new PNP chief on April 19 and replace Dir. Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa, who will then proceed to lead the Bureau of Corrections.

Albayalde said he had not chosen his successor at the NCRPO but disclosed that one may be appointed before his oathtaking.

He is currently director of the National Capital Region Police Office or NCRPO.

Albayalde said that he would also consider the recommendations of other officials in choosing the next Metro Manila police chief as he wanted to do away with “bata-bata” or patronage system in the PNP.

“Si Presidente nga hindi inadopt ang bata-bata system, tayo pa?” he said.

(The President did not adopt the patronage system, why would we?)

Albayalde last week thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for appointing him even though he was never assigned in the chief executive’s hometown in Davao City.

Dela Rosa has also defended Duterte’s selection of Albayalde, his mistah at the Philippine Military Academy “Sinagtala” Class of 1986, noting that the incoming police chief’s hardwork merited him his promotion.

The police chief also noted that being a Davao cop was not a qualification for Duterte. /cbb

READ: Bato says Davao posting not a requirement for PNP chief appointment