Duterte backs latest PNP reshuffle

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on September 19, 2019. ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte is supportive of the major revamp in the Philippine National Police (PNP) since it will be “good” to cleanse the agency of scalawag cops, Malacañang said on Monday.

PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa has implemented a major revamp in the PNP after getting a go signal from the National Police Commission (Napolcom).

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo clarified that Duterte did not order or recommend a revamp but agreed with Gamboa’s decision.

“Hindi niya ginusto kung hindi (He didn’t recommend it but) he agreed with the revamp. That’s good for the PNP,” Panelo said.

“Any revamp will always be good for an organization after a while because mahirap iyong magkakaroon ka na ng ugat doon sa mga posisyon ninyo. Tama lang iyon (it’s hard that you stay in a particular position for too long. That’s only right),” he added.

Panelo, meanwhile, said the Palace will not interfere with ongoing investigations on policemen who were allegedly involved in the reselling of seized illegal drugs in Pampanga six years ago.

During the resumption of the hearings on Monday at the Department of Justice, the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) included embattled former PNP chief Oscar Albayalde in the charges filed along with 13 of his former subordinates.

When the operation occurred, Albayalde was the acting police chief of the Pampanga police provincial office.

Albayalde was the acting chief of the Pampanga police provincial office in 2013 when he allegedly attempted to influence the dismissal order against his 13 former subordinates accused of being “ninja cops”.

“From the very start we said, if they feel that they have a case against anyone then they can file it and let the law takes its course,” Panelo said.

Panelo said Duterte has yet to name his next PNP chief.