Former PNP chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde. (File photo)
MANILA -- Former Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, is still entitled to retirement benefits despite being embroiled in controversies, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Friday.
“He will retire with all the benefits,” DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya told reporters when sought for a comment.
Albayalde mandatorily retired from the service on Friday as he turned 56.
Albayalde is included as respondent in its amended referral complaint filed by the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) dated October 21 before the Department of Justice.
“Until and unless a case is filed against him, but that is of course without prejudice to the filing of criminal cases which have already been filed with the DOJ. Pending na yun doon (The case is pending) but that has no bearing on his retirement,” Malaya said.
For his part, PNP spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said Albayalde requested not to be accorded retirement honors by the PNP.
“We did not have retirement honors because this is just optional and General Albayalde opted not to avail of it. Normally, it is held simultaneously with the turnover ceremony. However, the President has yet to appoint a new PNP chief,” Banac told reporters in a press briefing held at Camp Crame.
Albayalde's resignation came amid the controversies hounding him in connection with the activities of 13 policemen from Pampanga when he was still the provincial director in 2013.
Albayalde, former Pampanga police chief at the time of the operation, along with the 13 alleged 'ninja cops' are facing criminal charges before the Department of Justice.
The investigation would focus on the policemen's alleged violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, qualified bribery, falsification of public documents, perjury and dereliction of duty.
The case involves the supposed cover-up during the November 2013 buy-bust involving Johnson Lee, owner of the house in Woodbridge Subdivision, Lakeshore View, Pampanga raided by 13 members of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force of the Pampanga Provincial Police Office.
The raid yielded a substantial amount of illegal drugs wherein involved cops allegedly pilfered some 160 kilos of shabu.
Earlier, DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano said that 13 police officers allegedly involved in the reselling of seized illegal drugs in Pampanga six years ago will face administrative charges.
Meanwhile, no administrative case will be filed against Albayalde, but Año said he is liable for command responsibility. (PNA)
