Talk about PNP chief succession unseemly and premature
WITH still no vacancy at the top of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and incumbent chief Oscar Albayalde still very much in the service until his retirement in November, there is today too much talk and unhealthy speculation about his possible successor.
The politics of succession is muddying serious inquiry into the so-called “ninja cops,” and their alleged recycling of illegal drugs confiscated by the PNP from drug dealers.
Politics could be influencing the testimony of witnesses at the Senate hearing, such as Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron Aquino, and it is distorting public perspectives.
And now, we have also learned from a Philippine Star report that a good number of aspiring successors to General Albayalde’s post are part of President Duterte’s entourage in his five-day visit to Russia.
In all, there are or were 15 police and military officials in the President’s retinue.
This is not the first time that Mr. Duterte has brought with him police and military officials to his official trips abroad. He has indulged them before.
It is optimistically thought or hoped that in spite of his busy official schedule, the President was able to monitor developments in the country, including the affairs of the Philippine National Police.
Malacañang spokesman Salvador Panelo has encouraged talk about the next PNP chief by saying the President is reviewing the background and credentials of each candidate.
The ongoing Senate inquiry into a seemingly indeterminate subject matter and seeming turmoil in the PNP has galvanized calls for the resignation or early retirement of General Albayalde.
In particular, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon has seized the moment to call for the resignation of Albayalde on grounds that he has been allegedly linked by one testimony to the so-called “ninja cops” who served under his command in Pampanga six years ago.
Drilon has questioned Albayalde’s credibility and capability to lead the country’s 190,000-strong police force.
“Whatever happens,” he declared, “Albayalde’s stint as PNP chief has been tarnished by this revelation. Given the “tokhang” campaign, which has killed thousands of people and supposed drug dealers, the drug campaign loses its credibility when you hear of these allegations [against] high-ranking officials of the PNP.”
The basis for Drilon’s call for Albayalde’s resignation was apparently the Senate testimony of PDEA chief Aquino. But Aquino has since recanted what he said about the PNP chief.
Albayalde has firmly rejected calls for him to resign, saying he will wait for President Duterte to decide his fate. He said: “I will not fall into that trap. I will not resign.”
It may be a trap, indeed. There are many personages and political or criminal interests that are avidly monitoring top personnel developments in the national police force.
Meanwhile, we suggest that the Senate wind down its interminable hearings that are going every which way. We are startled that Mayor Magalong is still telling so many stories after promising several times to tell all.
The Senate inquiry appears to be evolving into a criminal investigation, but this, as we remember, is not a function of the legislature. This belongs to the executive and judicial branches of our government.