Oscar Albayalde Slams Duterte’s Arrest: “Una kong maiiisip is bastos”

OSCAR ALBAYALDE – Former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde labeled the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte as “bastos,” criticizing the disrespectful treatment and lack of due process during the incident.

Oscar Albayalde has strongly criticized the manner in which former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested last Tuesday, describing it as “bastos” or disrespectful.

In an interview with News5 on Friday, Albayalde expressed his disappointment over how Duterte was treated by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) during the arrest. He particularly called out CIDG Chief P/Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III for the aggressive handling of the situation.

“Una kong maiiisip is bastos,” Albayalde said. “Bastos in a way na hindi siya na-accord ng due process. Puwersahan nandun.”

He recalled how Duterte was allegedly threatened during the arrest. “Halos sabihin niya na, ‘Kung hindi ka tatayo diyan, kakaladkarin kita. Iaakyat kita doon.’ How can you say that to a former president?” he added.

Albayalde, who served as the second police chief under Duterte’s administration, is among the co-accused in the alleged crimes against humanity case filed at the International Criminal Court (ICC). He admitted that he is prepared for the possibility of being arrested by the ICC.

“Kung talagang isusuko tayo ng gobyerno, talagang wala tayong magagawa,” he said. “Kasi after serving this country for almost 38 years, kung ito po ang isusukli ng gobyerno sa atin wala po tayong magagawa.”

Albayalde warned that the government’s willingness to surrender Duterte could set a dangerous precedent for future administrations and even ordinary citizens. “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 himself was previously embroiled in controversy over the 2013 Pampanga anti-drug raid involving so-called “ninja cops,” where his men were accused of reselling confiscated drugs. Though he denied any involvement, the CIDG maintained that he was aware of the irregularities but chose to remain silent.

Albayalde resigned from his post as police chief in October 2019. He is now running for mayor of Angeles City, Pampanga, in the 2025 midterm elections.

Following Duterte’s arrest, ICC assistant to counsel Atty. Kristina Conti confirmed that warrants for Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Albayalde may soon follow. “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,” Conti told DZBB Super Radyo on March 12.