(Eagle News)–Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde on Monday announced he was stepping down from the top PNP post.
Albayalde, who said he reached his decision “after careful thought and deliberation,” said during the police force’s flag-raising ceremony that he was on “non-duty” status starting today.
“I have submitted my letter of intent to [Interior] Secretary [Eduardo] Año which he accepted and favorably endorsed to the President,” Albayalde said.
He said this would “pave the way for the appointment of his replacement should the President so desire.”
Albayalde’s move came following allegations he had intervened in the cases filed against 13 policemen behind the 2013 Pampanga raid which the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group found to have been irregular.
Retired brigadier general Rudy Lacadin also accused him of calling him upon learning he was probing the raid and telling him “onti lang naman napunta sa akin diyan.”
President Rodrigo Duterte has said he would defer from taking action against the policemen and Albayalde pending the results of a Senate probe.
Over the weekend, Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the justice and human rights committee, said the joint Senate panel probing the ninja cops issue would recommend the filing of charges against Albayalde.
Albayalde was scheduled to retire in November. Mar Gabriel
