Albayalde: PNP doing job to prevent gov’t’s ‘drastic moves’ in Negros Oriental

PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said on Tuesday that there is no need for President Rodrigo Duterte to do “something drastic” amid the string of killings in Negros Oriental, but seemed to have clarified his statement a few minutes later.

In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Albayalde was explaining that the situation in Negros Oriental, where 21 persons have been killed from July 18 to July 28, remains under control, and that the locals in the province continue to live their normal lives.

He was then asked a question if there is a need for Duterte to enforce drastic measures, emergency powers, or martial law based on how the PNP sees the peace and order situation in the province.

Albayalde answered: “As of this time wala pa tayong nakita, and even the President wala pa naman siyang nakita, that’s why until now wala pa siyang dinedeclare doon, that’s why we are doing everything para ma-maintain ‘yung peace and order doon and ‘yung pinaka-goal natin dito is to arrest ‘yung identified na pumatay.”

When asked if his assessment was different from that of the President, Albayalde said “of course not” and seemed to have retracted his statement.

“Hindi namin sinasabing walang sign para gumawa ng drastic measures si Presidente, ginagawa namin lahat para nga hindi na mag-decide ng ganun ang ating Presidente. I am not saying na walang sign, kasi the President has his own sources of information also,” Albayalde said.

“On our part, ang sinasabi namin, we do everything para hindi na humantong sa ganoon. But then again, the President, he has his decision. I am not saying na walang reason ang ating Presidente. Hindi nanggaling sa akin ‘yun na walang reason. I am saying that we are doing everything para hindi na humantong sa ganun, the PNP and the AFP kaya relentless ang ating operation,” he said.

Following the killings in Negros Oriental, Duterte warned he would do “something drastic” that “will not sit well with everybody” but is “needed.” He did not elaborate what he meant by his pronouncement.

READ: Martial law? Duterte vows to do ‘something drastic’ to address PH violence

While Albayalde admitted that the series of killings in Negros Oriental might have caused apprehensions among residents there, he said that there is no need for locals to be alarmed.

He also claimed that some sectors are bloating the issue on the killings and making it controversial.

According to Albayalde, everything that the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are doing are only part of their normal, relentless operations to secure the residents in the province. /jpv