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Albayalde knew everything about ‘ninja cops’ raid: CIDG
FILE: Retired Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde during the press conference after the signing of the Joint Letter Directive 01-2019 at the Tejeros Hall in Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday (April 16, 2019).
(PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)
MANILA — Retired Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde was aware of the details of the November 2013 controversial anti-drug raid by his men who were tagged as ‘ninja cops’ in Pampanga, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said Monday.
“He had direct control and supervision over the operation…until he was administratively relieved,” the CIDG said in its reply-affidavit signed by Lt. Col. Julius B. Sagandoy and Lt. Col. Dennis L. Wagas.
“Despite knowledge of the irregularities in the said operations, he remained mum and even applauded respondents Baloyo and his team for a job well done,” they added.
Albayalde was Pampanga police chief when Maj. Rodney Raymundo Louie Baloyo IV led the raid at the house rented by Johnson Lee located at Lot 21 and 22 Narra corner Waling Waling Streets, Woodbridge Subdivision, Lakeshore, Barangay Divisoria in Mexico town on November 29, 2013.
Albayalde was administratively relieved and placed on floating status from his post in March 2014, four months after the incident.
The CIDG pointed out that Baloyo’s team failed to comply with the “chain of custody” required by the law and “failed to immediately mark the seized illegal drugs”
“Respondent (Police General) Albayalde was fully informed about every detail that was happening during the raid, including, but not limited to the marked money, pre-arranged signal, suspects’ arrest and confiscation of suspected shabu placed in one open luggage and one medium size box.
“Albayalde was aware that the recovered shabu with an actual weight of 36.68 kilograms and the cash money were turned over to authorities,” the PNP-CIDG said.
Albayalde bowed out of the service on Friday after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier said there is not enough proof to charge Albayalde administratively but said he is liable for command responsibility.
