Magalong denies pushing for new PNP chief

BAGUIO CITY—Former police official Benjamin Magalong on Wednesday denied he was pushing a new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief to replace Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde.

"'Yong allegation na 'yan it doesn't make sense... Napakalakas ko na ba kay presidente at kung anong sasabihin ko 'yun ang ia-appoint niya?" the Baguio City mayor told ABS-CBN News.

Albayalde, who recently dragged into a controversy about rogue police officers in Pampanga accused of reselling confiscated narcotics, is also set to retire in November, he said.

"Magre-retire na siya in a matter of 1 month or 2. So bakit naman ako makikialam at maninira pa ako?" Magalong said.

Albayalde earlier named Metro Manila Police chief Guillermo Eleazar, PNP Directorial Staff chief Camilo Cascolan and PNP Deputy chief for operations Archie Gamboa as his possible successors.

Albayalde and Magalong on Tuesday traded barbs at a Senate hearing over the case involving rogue cops.

Magalong accused Albayalde of intervening in the case of his former men at the Pampanga police office who were accused of making off with millions worth of shabu seized during a November 2013 raid in Mexico town.

Magalong maintained he was only telling the truth.

"Mahirap magsinungaling. Napakahirap. Kailangan mong mag-rehearse... Dahil no'ng pumunta ako do'n, isa lang 'yong lagi kong iniisip, magsasasabi lang ako ng totoo," he said.

His appearance at the Senate hearing affected the privacy of his family, which was also followed by death threats, he said.

"Nakakalungkot lang isipin na kung sino pa 'yong gumagawa ng tama at nagsasabi ng tama eh ikaw pa ngayon ang threatened. Ikaw pa ngayon ang nai-iconvenient," he said.

Magalong said some rogue police officers keep a portion of confiscated drugs, which will then be used to plant evidence against drug personalities.

"Nafu-frustrate sila sa sistema... Kung nai-file sa prosecutor, naluluto naman. Nai-file sa korte, nababayaran din 'yong judges. So noon ang naging sistema is mag-iiwan sila," he said.

"Eh ngayon naging enterprising na ang mga tiwaling drug enforcers. Binaliktad na nila," he added.

Albayalde was chief of Pampanga police when a team of police officers allegedly made off with some 160 kilograms of shabu worth around P648 million following an anti-drug operation against an alleged Chinese drug lord in November 2013.

Magalong had said that then PNP chief Alan Purisima tipped him off about the allegedly anomalous anti-narcotics operation after getting word that the Pampanga cops started buying new sports utility vehicles (SUVs).

Albayalde denied Magalong’s allegation.—With a report from Michelle Soriano, ABS-CBN News