(Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte announced that the next Philippine National Police chief is National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, Director Oscar Albayalde General Oscar Albayalde.
In announcing the next police chief who will replace PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, he said that the police force would do good to have a “strict” chief.
“The stricter the better,” Duterte said in Malacanang during the awarding ceremonies for outstanding farmers and fisherfolk.
Before he made the announcement, the President said that he had asked several policemen in Davao about Albayalde, and the common sentiment was that he was very strict.
“Sabi nila, sir masyadong istrikto yan! (They said he [Albayalde] is very strict),” Duterte said.
“Then Albayalde is the man for you. The stricter is the better,” he said.
The President earlier extended the term of Dela Rosa as PNP chief on February 20, directing him to stay “a little bit longer” so he could clean up the police force of “scoundrels and scalawags.”
“There are scoundrels, scalawags in every organization. That’s why the PNP (chief) now who is supposed to retire on 24th of April and because he enjoys my trust and confidence, I will extend his term for a little bit longer,” Duterte said in an event on February 20, particularly the induction of new officers of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Inc.
Dela Rosa who was a member of PMA Class ’86, was supposed to retire last January 21 after he reached the mandatory retirement age of 56. But the President extended his term for another three months. His extended term was set to end on April 21.
Dela Rosa is set to retire on April 24, according to the President, after having served his term extension.
In a phone interview, Albayalde said he was elated and thankful for the President’s trust. He also thanked retiring PNP chief Dela Rosa for his confidence in him.
“Syempre very very much elated at thankful unang-una sa Diyos, sa Presidente at kay chief PNP for giving the trust and confidence in me. Rest assured that I will not betray their trust and confidence na ibinigay nila sa kin. Yun ang maipapangako ko sa kanila,” Albayalde said.
He said that he will continue to support the President’s advocacy including the programs to reform the PNP.
“Magtatrabaho pa rin ako, I will continue to work with the President, support his advocacy especially yung pagbabago na gusto ng Presidente. Yun ang pinapangako ko,” he said. (with a report from Mar Gabriel, Eagle News Service)