Albayalde: 'Double Barrel' to continue with reforms

MANILA, Philippines — New Philippine National Police chief Director Oscar Albayalde vowed to continue the government’s war on illegal drugs, particularly Oplan Double Barrel, as former PNP head Director General Ronald dela Rosa bowed out of the police service.

Albayalde said he would continue Dela Rosa’s programs against illegal drugs and the efforts to get rid of police scalawags.

“This is your chief Bato signing off and signing on as citizen Bato,” Dela Rosa said, eliciting cheers from the audience.

President Duterte, for his part, said Dela Rosa’s next assignment will be as head of the Bureau of Corrections.

Dela Rosa fought back tears when he surrendered his police badge, an act which signaled the end of his career as a police officer.

His favorite song “All of Me” by American singer John Legend was also played while his personal flag was being lowered.

Albayalde will continue the police flagship program against illegal drugs to achieve Duterte’s goal of eradicating the drug menace.

He promised to press ahead with the anti-illegal drugs campaign through Oplan Double Barrel, a program started by Dela Rosa where at least 4,100 drug suspects have been killed in alleged legitimate police encounters.

Included in the program is Oplan Tokhang, knock and plead in Cebuano, which is being credited for the surrender of 1.3 million drug pushers and users.

“We will carry on the programs of the previous leadership, particularly the Oplan Double Barrel, because continuity is important to maintain the momentum of our accomplishments and gains, but we will reform those programs that need to be more responsive to our existing situation,” Albayalde said during the change of command ceremony at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Albayalde promised to work side by side with the president to help achieve genuine change for the people.

He warned police officers involved in illegal activities to start changing their ways as he will bring his strictness from the National Capital Region Police Office on a nationwide scale.

“We shall impose and breathe discipline 24/7 and implement reforms in all levels of the PNP,” said Albayalde.

Albayalde disclosed his one marching order from President Duterte: “Do what is right.”

He said Duterte gave him the directive when they met early this week.

“He said just do what is right. He will not meddle with our organization, with our decisions,” Albayalde told ABS CBN’s Bandila yesterday.

Albayalde said the president assured him that he would not interfere in the reassignment of police officials.

“He will not meddle with any positioning, especially inside the PNP,” he said.

Albayalde replaced Dela Rosa, who led the police organization for 21 months and has been Duterte’s chief enforcer of his anti-drug campaign.

On his last day as PNP chief, Dela Rosa took a swipe at critics of the government’s war on drugs.

He hit back at detractors who have accused the police of committing human rights violations in the implementation of Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.

With 131 police officers killed and 346 others wounded in anti-drug operations since he assumed office in July 2016, Dela Rosa said the numbers are proof that the police operations are legitimate.

“It is indicative of the intensity of our war on drugs and belied accusations that our anti-drug campaign is staged or just moro-moro,” he said.

He pointed out that in 83,057 police operations, a total of 130,271 suspected drug pushers and users were arrested.

Dela Rosa earlier challenged Human Rights Watch, which described his tenure as sordid in terms of human rights violations unmatched since the strongman rule of Ferdinand Marcos, to file charges against him.

As part of the retirement ceremonies in Camp Crame, Dela Rosa was joined by his classmates from the Philippine Military Academy Sinagtala Class of 1986 during his last trooping of the line.

Controversial former police senior superintendent Cesar Mancao joined his mistah Dela Rosa in trooping the line.

On Jan. 30, 2017, Mancao surrendered to authorities after he was ordered arrested by the court in connection with the killing of publicist Salvador Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito in 2000.

Duterte gave both Dela Rosa and Albayalde their marching orders yesterday. 

Dela Rosa will wait for rogue policemen involved in illegal criminal activities at the New Bilibid Prison.

“I’d like to just issue a warning, not give, but issue talaga. That kayong mga pulis nasa droga, nasa kidnap for ransom. Kung ano-anong krimen na pinapasok ninyo. Pagdating ninyo sa Bilibid, ang sasalubong sa inyo ay si Dela Rosa,” the president said.

To Albayalde, the president told him to do his job and not dwell on intrigues about his appointment to the top PNP post.

“Sir, you do not owe anybody anything for what you achieved in your life. It’s your credentials,” Duterte said.

The new PNP chief has God to thank for his latest feat, the chief executive said. 

Duterte said he chose Albayalde upon recommendation of his peers after having earned their trust for being a no-nonsense police official.

Albayalde stressed that programs beneficial to the PNP should be continued regardless of who sits as police chief.

“What’s important here is continuity. I will not be staying forever as chief PNP,” he said.

Albayalde is also a member of the PMA Sinagtala Class of 1986. He is set to retire from the service on Nov. 8, 2019.

Albayalde has appointed his PMA classmate Director Camilo Pancratius Cascolan as the next head of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

Cascolan is the former chief of the PNP’s Directorate for Operations. He is among the four police officials who were reassigned as part of the reshuffle triggered by Albayalde’s appointment as PNP chief. With Christina Mendez, Cecille Suerte Felipe