WE shed no tears when we learned that Oscar Albayalde will become the next chief of the Philippine National Police, replacing a predecessor who famously cried during Senate hearings when the reputation of the men and women in blue came under attack.
Albayalde, known as a strict disciplinarian, seems well suited to the task of restoring public confidence in the PNP, which has been eroded over the years by too many instances of incompetence, corruption and outright criminal behavior.
In the most recent example of incompetence, the PNP admitted it had filed a weak case that led to the dismissal of charges against a high-profile, self-confessed drug trafficker and his alleged associates.
In September 2017, Caloocan City police were accused of the execution-style killing of two teenagers, then tried in vain to cover up the murders as legitimate anti-drug operations. Fallout from these cases led President Rodrigo Duterte to temporarily relieve the PNP from its leading role in the war on illegal drugs.
In October 2016, policemen abducted a Korean businessman from his home in Angeles City in a failed attempt to extort money from him and his wife, then brought him to PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, where one of his abductors strangled him. His remains were cremated to cover up the murder.
Tellingly, Albayalde was Metro Manila police chief at the time of the teenage killings and responded swiftly by sacking 297 policemen from three precincts, then the rest of the 1,000-strong Caloocan City police force.
Albayalde also played a key role in overseeing security and traffic for the Asean summit in Manila with some 33,000 policemen deployed in November 2017. The minimal disruption during the summit contrasted sharply to the gridlock that motorists endured during the 2015 Apec summit.
As Metro Manila police chief, Albayalde was known for conducting surprise inspections during the night shift, sacking cops who were found sleeping or drinking on the job.
Speaking with candor, Albayalde says he cannot promise a less bloody war on drugs if suspects put up a fight. On the other hand, he has vowed to cooperate in the investigations of police operations with other government agencies, including the Commission on Human Rights. He has also promised to comply with the order of the Supreme Court to submit documents on deaths linked to the war on drugs.
It is a daunting task ahead for the new PNP chief, when most people view police on the streets with fear and suspicion. Albayalde will have truly succeeded when that perception has changed.
