Albayalde has no knowledge on alleged CIA assassination plot vs. Duterte
Published Aug 22, 2018 01:11 pm
By Martin Sadongdong
The Philippine National Police (PNP)'s top cop bared on Wednesday that he has no knowledge, at least so far, of the alleged assassination plot by the United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) against President Duterte.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde (Kevin Tristan Espiritu / MANILA BULLETIN)
PNP chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde, however, said extreme preparations should always be observed and implemented by the close-in security of Duterte despite the lack of intelligence information on the alleged CIA plot.
"With regards to, probably specific , 'yung CIA, we really don't have information as far as the PNP is concerned," said Albayalde in an interview on CNN's "The Source."
Albayalde's statement came with the recent pronouncement of Duterte that the CIA could be eavesdropping on his phone conversations to map out a possible assassination plot against him.
"But I know that they --- ang nakikinig sa akin is United States, sigurado 'yan ang CIA (the United States is listening to me, that's the CIA for sure). Iyan ang papatay sa akin, 'yang mga u*** na 'yan eh (They will be the one who would kill me, those mad people)," said Duterte in a speech in Cebu Tuesday.
Duterte added that other countries such as Russia, China, Israel and Indonesia could also be spying on him.
As for his part, Albayalde said Duterte has valid reasons to suspect that there is a threat on his life since he holds the highest government position in the country.
"f you're a President, there's always a threat on your life. Automatic 'yun. There's always that assumption na palaging may threat sa buhay mo (that there is a threat on your life). That's very important so that you can prepare for the security," he added.
In a separate press briefing at Camp Crame, Albayalde said they cannot discount the possibility of Duterte's claims since all information about threats on the life of the Commander-in-Chief needs validation.
He added that aside from the CIA, there are also other sources of threats on Duterte's life including from the "vengeful" drug lords -- because of the intense drug war, and the New People's Army (NPA) due to the bogged down peace negotiations.
"Whether they're foreign or domestic , we treat them equally. Hindi namin pwedeng sabihin fictitious lang 'yan (We cannot say it's only fictitious ), it needs validation.
However, Albayalde said the Presidential Security Group (PSG), which is tasked to ensure the security and safety of Duterte, has not made a request to them for augmentation force.
It was not the first time that Duterte raised the possibility of an ouster plot against him through an assassination of the CIA.
In April 2018, Duterte said that the CIA "should be the one to blame" if in case the plane he is riding on explodes and he gets killed. In October 2017, the Commander-in-Chief also claimed he received reports that the CIA is planning to kill him.
The allegations of Duterte has repeatedly been denied by the United States, with US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim saying: "There is no absolutely no effort by the CIA to undermine the Philippines leadership."
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde (Kevin Tristan Espiritu / MANILA BULLETIN)
PNP chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde, however, said extreme preparations should always be observed and implemented by the close-in security of Duterte despite the lack of intelligence information on the alleged CIA plot.
"With regards to, probably specific , 'yung CIA, we really don't have information as far as the PNP is concerned," said Albayalde in an interview on CNN's "The Source."
Albayalde's statement came with the recent pronouncement of Duterte that the CIA could be eavesdropping on his phone conversations to map out a possible assassination plot against him.
"But I know that they --- ang nakikinig sa akin is United States, sigurado 'yan ang CIA (the United States is listening to me, that's the CIA for sure). Iyan ang papatay sa akin, 'yang mga u*** na 'yan eh (They will be the one who would kill me, those mad people)," said Duterte in a speech in Cebu Tuesday.
Duterte added that other countries such as Russia, China, Israel and Indonesia could also be spying on him.
As for his part, Albayalde said Duterte has valid reasons to suspect that there is a threat on his life since he holds the highest government position in the country.
"f you're a President, there's always a threat on your life. Automatic 'yun. There's always that assumption na palaging may threat sa buhay mo (that there is a threat on your life). That's very important so that you can prepare for the security," he added.
In a separate press briefing at Camp Crame, Albayalde said they cannot discount the possibility of Duterte's claims since all information about threats on the life of the Commander-in-Chief needs validation.
He added that aside from the CIA, there are also other sources of threats on Duterte's life including from the "vengeful" drug lords -- because of the intense drug war, and the New People's Army (NPA) due to the bogged down peace negotiations.
"Whether they're foreign or domestic , we treat them equally. Hindi namin pwedeng sabihin fictitious lang 'yan (We cannot say it's only fictitious ), it needs validation.
However, Albayalde said the Presidential Security Group (PSG), which is tasked to ensure the security and safety of Duterte, has not made a request to them for augmentation force.
It was not the first time that Duterte raised the possibility of an ouster plot against him through an assassination of the CIA.
In April 2018, Duterte said that the CIA "should be the one to blame" if in case the plane he is riding on explodes and he gets killed. In October 2017, the Commander-in-Chief also claimed he received reports that the CIA is planning to kill him.
The allegations of Duterte has repeatedly been denied by the United States, with US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim saying: "There is no absolutely no effort by the CIA to undermine the Philippines leadership."