Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Oscar Albayalde will retire as scheduled on Nov. 8 but proposed an earlier turnover date in consideration of President Rodrigo Duterte’s schedule, a Palace official said.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, who had spoken to Albayalde over the phone, clarified that the PNP chief only proposed Oct. 29 as a possible date for turnover but did not mean that he was retiring earlier.
“Was with Albayalde just now. He said he was misquoted. It wasn’t early retirement but a proposal for early turnover,” Andanar said in a text message to reporters on Saturday.
Duterte is scheduled to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Thailand by the end of October.
“October 29 was the proposed date because the President is leaving for the Asean Summit,” Andanar said, quoting the PNP chief.
Still quoting the PNP chief, Andanar said there is no confirmation or an official document coming from Malacañang yet regarding Albayalde’s proposed turnover date.
He clarified that it was only a schedule for the turnover of command but Albayalde’s retirement would still be on November 8.
On Friday, Albayalde said the PNP change of command may be held on Oct. 29, before Duterte’s trip to Thailand.
Earlier, Senator Richard Gordon said allegations against Albayalde can build strong criminal and administrative cases and that authorities can still go after him despite his early retirement.
Albayalde has been accused of involvement in the recycling illegal drugs in Mexico, Pampanga on November 2013. He was provincial police director of Pampanga at that time.
In a Senate hearing, former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief and now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong claimed Albayalde failed to dismiss his subordinates involved in the recycling of illegal drugs.
Meanwhile, former CIDG deputy director, Col. Rudy Lacadin, claimed Albayalde admitted receiving money from the reselling of drugs
He, however, denied these allegations claiming other police generals were ganging up on him and vowed to file charges against both Magalong and Lacadin. (PNA)
