MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Oscar Albayalde on Monday criticized a local chief executive in the eastern part of Metro Manila for reportedly not supporting PNP personnel following the reassignment of the chief of police without the mayor being informed.

“I think sa EPD (Eastern Police District). Hindi mo lang masabihan tanggal kaagad ‘yung [support to police in his area]. You know these are childish acts,” he said in an interview with reporters at Camp Crame.

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“Hindi nasabihan [or] na-inform na tinanggal ‘yung chief of police niya, na dinala [to another post] because we have a career also. Meron kaming tinatawag na career ladder na kailangan na umangat [yung position ng pulis],” he said.

The PNP chief did not identify the mayor he was referring to, although EPD covers only four cities: Marikina, San Juan, Mandaluyong, and Pasig.

Albayalde also said that under the law, local chief executives has the prerogative to choose the chief of police in their cities or municipalities but said there are instances the PNP has to temporarily assign an acting police chief in their areas if the post has been vacated.

“When we put somebody, we put an OIC (Officer in Charge) temporar[ily], dapat maintindihan nila ‘yan, temporary ‘yan and then they will be made to choose [who will be the permanent chief] kasi hindi pwedeng pabayaan natin ‘yung istasyon na walang commander,” he said.

“Wala pong pambabastos ‘yun so ito ‘yung palagi nating sinasabi. So let’s not abuse our position also. Let us not abuse our authority also,” he said.

Albayalde added that there is no law that mandates the PNP to inform local chief executives on the reassignment of the chiefs of police in their areas. /jpv

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