Malacañang defended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde against militant groups calling for his resignation after the bloody police operations in Negros Oriental killing 14 farmers suspected as members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo insisted, “there is absolutely no basis in fact and in law for the PNP Chief, General Oscar Albayalde, to resign.”
The recent police operations, according to Panelo were legitimate wherein uthorities were implementing search warrants that were duly issued by competent courts.
“As the PNP explained, this is not a case of massacre given the fact that those who surrendered without forceful resistance were lawfully apprehended unharmed following the discovery of illegal items pursuant to the court sanctioned search. In fact, a policeman was wounded which goes to show that there were indeed some who used violent resistance when authorities were conducting the search,” Panelo said.
Panelo also emphasized that General Albayalde has even acted “objectively by relieving administratively ranking officers from their posts just to pave the way for a thorough and impartial investigation free from any possible undue influence and to determine whether lapses were made during the conduct of these operations.”
