Drilon urges PNP chief: Consider early retirement
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Sun, 06 Oct 2019 09:16:04 +0000
DRILON (FB photo)
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said yesterday that Philippine National Police chief Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde should consider early retirement to enable the PNP to restore its image following the controversy surrounding his supposed role in protecting “ninja cops” or policemen who recycle illegal drugs seized in anti-narcotics operations.
“Sa akin, without admitting any liability, baka kailangan niya na mag-early retirement para mailagay na kaagad kung sino ang kapalit niya at makagawa ng hakbang para maibalik ang tiwala ng sambayan dito sa kapulisan natin,” Drilon said.
“Ang benepisyo niyan, maka-recover ang PNP. Medyo nasira ang PNP at ‘yung drug campaign doon dahilan dito sa mga lumalabas na mismo ang PNP ang nagre-recycle ng illegal drugs,” the Senate minority leader said.
Albayalde has repeatedly denied involvement in the demotion of the 13 alleged ninja cops headed by Police Major Rodney Baloyo who were part of an anti-narcotics operation in Mexico, Pampanga in 2013.
During the last Senate hearing, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Aaron Aquino confirmed that at the time Albayalde became the head of the National Capital Region Police Office, he called him to inquire about the status of the case of the 13 policemen and asked that he does not implement the dismissal order given by then Central Luzon police chief Police Brig. Gen. Raul Petrasanta.
“Wala pong sagabal na isama siya sa imbestigasyon. Sa aking tingin, in one month’s time ay mag-retire na siya, to me, it is almost useless to include him sa administrative investigation,” Drilon said.
“Baka dapat i-consider niya yung early retirement; sabihin niya, without admitting anything, hindi niya inaamin na siya nagkasala, ngunit dahilan sa nadungisan ang prestige at imahe ng PNP dahil dito, baka i-consider niya ang early retirement,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said yesterday it is up to Albayalde to decide if he would resign from his position.
Lacson said it is a personal decision on the part of the embattled PNP chief to resign on account of his alleged move to intervene in the dismissal of the 13 cops involved in the recycling of confiscated illegal drugs in Pampanga in 2013.
“Ang resignation, personal decision ‘yan. Hindi dapat pakialaman ng kung sino. Ang nangyayari kasi, kapag may ganyang kontrobersya, eventually nagre-resign din pero alam natin kaya nag-resign, pinag-sabihan ng appointing authority, in this case ang Presidente ng Pilipinas. Sa halip na sibakin kita, mag-resign ka na lang,” Lacson said.