(Eagle News)–The Philippine National Police has dispelled rumors its chief Oscar Albayalde had resigned.
PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac told Eagle News the text messages on Albayalde’s alleged resignation were mere “fake news.”
The text message, which read “JUST IN: PNP CHIEF GEN. Oscar Albayalde has tendered his resignation. Please check with Malacañang” circulated after retired general Rudy Lacadin told a joint Senate panel looking into the issue of ninja cops that Albayalde called him after learning he was probing the 2013 Mexico, Pampanga raid and told him “onti lang naman napunta sa akin diyan.”
This was after Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Chief Aaron Aquino said Albayalde called him and told him not to implement the 2014 dismissal order against the policemen behind the raid which the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group found to have been irregular.
Albayalde has questioned the timing of Lacadin’s allegations, and noted that he was never charged with anything.
The PNP chief admitted to calling Aquino but said he never influenced him into doing anything.
President Rodrigo Duterte has said he would defer from taking action on the allegations against Albayalde and the 13 policemen pending the results of the Senate panel probe. Based on reports from Mar Gabriel, Meanne Corvera
