(Eagle News)–Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Chief Aaron Aquino on Thursday, Oct. 3, admitted now-Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde called him in 2016 to ask him not to implement the dismissal order against the 13 policemen behind the 2013 Pampanga raid.
Aquino made the admission a day after Senator Richard Gordon said he was “disappointed” with the PDEA chief, who said in a previous Senate hearing that while Albayalde called him, this was only to ask about the status of the cases against the policemen.
Gordon had said Aquino’s version in that Senate hearing was different from the version the PDEA chief gave when he talked to the senator and to Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.
“Sir, baka pwedeng wag mo muna iimplement ang order,” a more forthright Aquino, who was then the Central Luzon regional director, quoted Albayalde as saying in today’s hearing.
Aquino said he told Albayalde, “Bakit Oca?”
“Kasi mga tao ko sila,” Aquino said Albayalde answered.
“Then I answered, Oca, iparereview ko kaso nila then papatapon ko sila,” Aquino said.
In the hearing on Tuesday, Oct.1, Albayalde admitted making the call to Aquino, but only to ask about the case of the policemen, who were his men when he was Pampanga police provincial director.
Albayalde, who was again present in today’s hearing, did not confirm nor deny Aquino’s latest statement.
He maintained, however, that he never influenced Aquino into doing anything.
He has said he made the call to help the policemen’s families who he said had been asking him about their loved ones. Meanne Corvera