'Bastos': Oscar Albayalde on how Rodrigo Duterte was arrested
Former National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde on Friday slammed CIDG chief P/Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III for the way former president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested last Tuesday.
"Una kong maiiisip is bastos," he told News5 on Friday. "Bastos in a way na hindi siya na-accord ng due process. Puwersahan nandun."
"Nakita naman po natin na kung papaano siya natrato. Halos sabihin niya na, 'Kung hindi ka tatayo diyan, kakaladkarin kita. Iaakyat kita doon.' How can you say that to a former president?" he continued.
In the same interview, Albayalde, who is among Duterte's co-accused in his alleged crime against humanity case at the ICC, said he is prepared to be arrested by the International Criminal Court (ICC), should it happen.
"Kung talagang isusuko tayo ng gobyerno, talagang wala tayong magagawa. Kasi after serving this country for almost 38 years, kung ito po ang isusukli ng gobyerno sa atin wala po tayong magagawa,"
He expressed concern that this sets a risky precedent for surrendering former officials and what that signals for ordinary citizens.
"Sabi ko nga, masama pong pangitain sa mga tao ito. Kung ang mga no less than our head of states or yung mga nag serbisyo sa atin for so many years, kaya nating i-surrender pala. Saan pa pupunta yung mga ordinaryong tao sa atin?"
Albayalde became the second police chief under the Duterte administration. The former police chief maintained there were “no human rights” violated during the war on drugs.
During his stint, he also faced a controversy about the anti-drug raid by his men who were tagged as “ninja cops” in Pampanga in 2013, where he allegedly benefitted in the selling of the seized contraband, which he denied.
However, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group maintained that Albayalde was aware of the irregularities of the operation but remained mum.
He resigned from his position as police chief and went on non-duty status in October 2019. He is seeking a mayoral seat in Angeles City, Pampanga, in the 2025 midterm elections.
Following the arrest of Duterte, Senator Bato Dela Rosa and Oscar Albayalde may be served their warrant of arrest soon by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
"May tatlong pangalan kasing binanggit doon sa mga dokumento ng ICC. Noon pa man sinisilip nila na responsible: Duterte, Bato dela Rosa at Oscar Albayalde," ICC assistant to counsel Atty. Kristina Conti told DZBB Super Radyo on March 12.
