No political intervention in PNP promotions, reassignments – Albayalde

There is no “political intervention” in the police force’s promotions, reassignments  and operation, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said Thursday.

Albayalde highlighted the difference between the present and previous administrations, noting the PNP chief can now freely choose the right people for the positions.

He admitted that the consideration of political orders in the assignments of new officials in the PNP had been an issue previously.

“Nung panahon nga nila sir hindi ka pwedeng mag-assign siguro ng chief of police lang ‘pag di ka nagpaalam [sa Presidente] e,” Albayalde said at a forum in Club Filipino in San Juan.

(During their time, you cannot assign a police chief if you do not ask permission from the President.)

“Dito [sa ilalim ni President Rodrigo Duterte], even if you relieved a regional director, walang pakialam yung ating Presidente provided that that’s your decision at alam niya na yun ang tama na decision,” he added.

(Here, under President Duterte, even if you relieved a regional director, our president does not care provided that that’s your decision and he thinks that it is the right decision.)

Albayalde said such a style allows him to choose the right people for the positions and focus on the work they have to do in the police force, especially in the relief and assignment of officers.

This results in better law enforcement and lower crime rate because better people do the job, he said.

“So sa amin pwede kami magbuhos sa trabaho. Hindi kami naghehesitate na baka magalit yung Presidente o magalit kung sinu-sino pagka nirelieve ko ito kung dinala ko to dito,” Albayalde said.

(So for us, we can focus on our jobs. We do not worry if we will anger the President or anyone else if I relieved or had reassigned someone.)

“Walang ganyan-ngayon. Walang political intervention sa mga assignments, sa promotions, wala,” he added.

(There’s no such practice anymore. There’s no political intervention in assignments, in promotions. Nothing.)

Albayalde said the PNP would finalize by June the reshuffle of its key officials, particularly the directors of the various National Support Units and regional directors.

He said the PNP oversight committee has started the evaluation of the performance of the officials which will serve as basis for their new assignments.   /muf