Albayalde ‘negligent’, Pampanga cops ‘incompetent’ on Nov. 2013 anti-drug ops – Gordon

MANILA, Philippines — After conducting an investigation on “ninja cops” on Tuesday, Senator Richard Gordon concluded that Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde was “negligent” in overseeing the anti-drug operation in Pampanga in November 2013.

In a drug sting in Mexico, Pampanga, in 2013, thirteen police officers, who were under then Pampanga provincial director Albayalde, allegedly did not follow the rules of engagement, which aroused suspicion that they did not properly declare the number of illegal drugs they seized.

Gordon also blasted the police officers as “incompetent” for failing to follow the rules of engagement.

“Obviously, sheer incompetence itong mga nag-raid. Hindi lang sinungaling, incompetent pa. Incompetent pa magsinungaling kasi huling-huli na, hindi pa nagsasabi (They are not only liars but also incompetent. They are also incompetent liars because they won’t own up to it),” the senator told reporters in an interview after the probe.

“At the very least, he (Albayalde) was very negligent. At the most, he was extremely not looking at the ball,” he added.

Gordon said that while it has not been established that the shabu was recycled and re-sold, he was still building up a case against the 13 cops.

“If we can get the breakthrough and we’re trying to get a breakthrough, we’re getting two people to testify. Siyempre malalaking tao yang mga kalaban nila kaya natatakot sila,” he said.

The senator also said he was disappointed with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Aaron Aquino for being “soft” and initially hesitating to divulge information until Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong coaxed him.

Aquino revealed that in 2016, when he was still Central Luzon police regional director, Albayalde called him to inquire about the case against the thirteen erring cops, which Gordon said was inappropriate.

He said the only evidence against Albayalde was Aquino’s testimony.

“Medyo (I’m a little bit) disappointed ako dito sa isang testigo kasi medyo lumambot siya eh (with one witness because he got cold feet),” Gordon said.

“If something is under investigation, you don’t call somebody,” he added. /ac