Incoming Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde on Saturday vowed to continue on the national level all the programs, including the crackdown on illegal drugs and erring police personnel, that he started during his stint as National Capital Region Police Office chief.
“Rest assured that I will continue what I started at the NCRPO. We will make sure every policeman is ready to respond to the needs of the community at all times,” said Albayalde.
He thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for the trust and confidence given to him when the Chief Executive recently named Albayalde to replace his mistah, Ronald dela Rosa, whose extended term would be expiring this month.
“I am truly humbled by your trust and faith in me. I will not betray the trust and confidence you gave me by choosing me to be the next PNP chief. I will do my best to fill the big shoes that will be left by Dir. Ronald dela Rosa,” said Albayalde.
“Under my watch the PNP will work side by side with you (Duterte) to help fulfill your promise of genuine change for the Filipino people, and of a more disciplined and better police force.”
Albayalde’s appointment was welcomed by Interior department’s officer in charge Eduardo Año, a retired military general, who described top cop as the man who best can handle the job.
Año said one of the defining moments of Albayalde’s career was his handling of an international gathering of leaders and delegates (Asean Summit) in which he deployed 20,000 cops to provide security and ensure the success of the Manila summit.
A native of San Fernando City, Albayalde is a member of the Philippine Military Academy ‘Sinagtala’ Class ’86 and former executive officer of the Philippine National Police-Directorate for Plans and former police provincial commander in Pampanga.
In July 2016, Albayalde took over the post as NCRPO police director, replacing Joel Pagdilao, and promised to strengthen police presence in the communities and intensify campaign against criminality and illegal drugs.
Albayalde received the Special Unit Awards on the Accounting of Illegal Drugs Personnel during the 116th Police Service Anniversary at Camp Crame, Quezon City last Aug. 9.
The award was given in recognition to the relentless efforts of the Team NCRPO in accordance to the marching order of President Duterte to wage war against illegal drugs and criminality.
A total of 228,395 suspected drug personalities surrendered to the NCRPO last year also in line with the government’s campaign dubbed “Oplan Tokhang.”
Tokhang (toktok-hangyo or knock and plead) mandates police station commanders to ask the barangay captains to submit a list of residents known to be into illegal drugs, including pushers, dealers, users and couriers.
The NCRPO reported that under Albayade’s watch, crime incidents in Metro Manila such as robbery, car and motor thefts, rape and physical injury went down in 2016 and 2017.
Albayalde said he has nothing to be proud of but his “achievements and accomplishments.”
But members and officials of the Kabataan Party-List condemned the new appointment of Albayalde, saying with him as the next PNP chief, “graver human rights violations to be committed by the state’s fascist police force loom.”
“No other police force holds the most violent record of human rights’ violations other than NCRPO under Albayalde’s watch,” they said.
“Never forget the thousand drug killings of the youth and the poor, as well as the violent dispersal of protests from running over Lumads in 2016 to the recent dispersal of jeepney drivers and units in February this year, not to mention, its bungled operation in the Mandaluyong shooting incident,” Kabataan said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Albayalde said he is willing to comply with the order of the Supreme Court for the police to disclose documents in connection with the government’s war on drugs. With Francisco Tuyay
