(Eagle News)–The joint Senate panel that probed the ninja cops issue has recommended the filing of charges for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against former Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde and the 13 policemen behind the irregular drug raid in Mexico, Pampanga in 2013.
In a televised press conference, Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the justice and human rights panel, said Albayalde in particular violated Section 3a of the law, which bans “persuading, inducing or influencing another public officer to perform an act constituting a violation of rules and regulations duly promulgated by competent authority or an offense in connection with the official duties of the latter, or allowing himself to be persuaded, induced, or influenced to commit such violation or offense.”
“This is a two-star general going to his upperclassman na one-star general,”, Gordon said, referring to allegations Albayalde called then-Central Luzon regional director Aaron Aquino reportedly to intervene in the cases filed against Rodney Baloyo’s group over the irregular raid.
Albayalde had denied influencing Aquino into doing anything, but Aquino said Albayalde, who was Pampanga provincial director, asked him to refrain from implementing the dismissal order against Baloyo’s men.
Gordon also gave weight to the testimony of retired Brigadier General Rudy Lacadin, who said Albayalde called him upon learning he was probing the raid, and told him “onti lang naman napunta sa akin diyan.”
Albayalde has questioned Lacadin’s timing of making the allegations, adding he was never charged.
Gordon said Albayalde, who was informed of the raid on Nov. 23, also “relied solely on Baloyo’s report” of the raid without verifying, and even commended Baloyo’s group and himself for the raid.
He said Baloyo’s group got demoted by Albayalde’s classmate in the police academy despite a dismissal order in 2014, and even got juicy positions later on.
“This indicates (Albayalde) is trying to save his men to secure loyalty that now he is PNP chief (then) he can put them in choice positions,” Gordon said.
Gordon noted that eventually, several of the 13 again became linked to an “agaw-bato home robbery” in Antipolo in May.
“(Albayalde) was the one in charge all the way,” he said, noting that if the former PNP chief had only investigated his men, he would not have been “in trouble” in the first place.
As for Baloyo’s group, Gordon said their main purpose when they entered Woodridge Subdivision on Nov. 29, 2013 was to hold a “hulidap.”
“Naglagay sila ng tawas dahil sinabi ng mga barangay, umaapaw ang pera, ang daming pera, at iba nilagay pa sa blanket,” Gordon said.
He said Baloyo’s group also resorted to switching the man they arrested during the raid, Johnson Lee, with another man, Wing Denkun.
The group, he said, also “attempted to change the course of the investigation all the way,” reporting that the raid took place at 4 p.m. when in fact it took place much earlier.
“Lahat sila, Albayalde, Baloyo, the other people in the group are guilty of malfeasance,” Gordon said.
“If you add all these statements including statements of (General Alan) Purisima, General (Albert) Ferro, and court dismissal of case of (Ding) Wenkun, along with circumstantial evidence, di mo chineck tao mo, di mo binabantayan, it becomes a very strong case against Albayalde and all his men,” Gordon added.
Purisima had instructed a probe into the irregular raid, while Ferro was one of those who probed it.
The issue prompted Albayalde, who was slated to retire in November, to step down as PNP chief.
