Sotto: Albayalde’s credibility not affected by his past

Senate President Vicente Sotto III and PNP Chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde FILE PHOTO.

MANILA, Philippine— Senate President  Vicente “Tito” Sotto III believes  that  the credibility of Philippine National Police Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde remained  intact  despite  allegations being raised against  him.

Sotto noted that the accusations  against Albayalde happened  when  he was not yet the PNP chief. 

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, former head of the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), accused  Albayalde  of allegedly intervening  on the dismissal  order  against  13 Pampanga  policemen involved in a questionable buy-bust operation. 

The  policemen  were charged  and ordered dismissed in relation  to an anti-drug operation they conducted  in Pampanga  in 2013.  Albayalde was the provincial  police director at the time.

During Tuesday’s hearing  in the Senate,  Magalong also  alleged   that Albayalde  bought a sports utility vehicle  after the  raid. The PNP chief vehemently denied the  allegation.

READ: Albayalde dares Magalong: Show proof, photo that I bought SUV in 2013

But all these allegedly  happened  in the past,  Sotto noted. 

“As the present chief  PNP, I don’t  think his credibility is affected. Ibang  usapan yung nakaraan. Hindi natin masabi kung   may value or what,” he told reporters  on Wednesday.

(As the present chief  PNP, I don’t  think his credibility is affected. What happened in the past is a different story. We can’t say  if it has value or what.)

“But if we’re talking about the present situation, wala akong nakikitang masama [I don’t see anything wrong],”  the  Senate leader added.

Sotto also saw no need for Albayalde  to take  a leave   while   the drug charges against   his  men in Pampanga were being reviewed.

At the same time,  the Senate leader defended  Magalong from those  who  questioned him for reviving  an old issue  against the PNP chief.

Sotto explained that  Magalong was  invited as a resource  person in the Senate’s inquiry  on the alleged anomalies  in the  New Bilibid Prison (NBP).  

And when the alleged recycling of seized illegal drugs was  mentioned  in the hearing, the former PDEA chief  cited  the Pampanga buy-bust case as an example.

In fact, he said,  Magalong was  hesitant to  mention names in an open public hearing, which prompted  the  committee to hold an executive session on  September 19.

“In other words, hindi totoo yung sinasabi  na bigla raw after six years  nilabas daw lahat yan [It’s not true that all  of these were suddenly brought up after six years.] Hindi [No], it was unearthed by the committee because of the connection  to the recycling in the NBP,” Sotto  said.

“I don’t think it’s right to blame Mayor Magalong,” he added. /jpv