By Aaron Recuenco Director General Oscar Albayalde, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said on Thursday that there was no politics involved in the sudden relief of the director of the Eastern Police District (EPD). PNP CHIEF DIR GEN. Oscar Albayalde (Mark Balmores/MANILA BULLETIN) The relief of Chief Supt. Alfredo Corpus and eventual transfer to the Directorate for Police Records and Management (DPRM) as its deputy was a result of the deliberation of the Camp Crame-based Oversight Committee which decides on the fate of senior police officials. “It’s a command decision, we decided, actually the Board of Directors has decided on it. There was no outside influence,” said Albayalde. The Chie PNP was reacting to the speculations that the reason why Corpus was relieved is that he is close to former President Noynoy Aquino. Corpus also served as director of the Tarlac Provincial Police Office. Tarlac is the home province of Aquino. The speculations stemmed from what observers said was the unusual relief of Corpus who was replaced 12 days after he assumed the leadership of the EPD. Normally, the Oversight Committee would give police commanders enough time to prove that they deserve the positions given to them in order to have a full grasp of his performance and accomplishments. In the case of Corpus, the EPD is among the top performers in the campaign against implementation of City ordinances against drinking in public, smoking, half-naked and curfew. But Albayalde said that the recent meeting of the Oversight Committee found out that there is a better position for Corpus. He said that the Oversight Committee might have considered some factors that led to the replacement of Corpus. “We decided to place him at the DPRM. From there, he will be given another chance other positions in the near future,” said Albayalde. “During the Oversight Committee, something came up. I was not privy. It was endorsed and recommended so it was said that if ever they see something or they have better reason why he was placed at the DPRM, then it’s okay” said Albayalde. “He is not on a floating status and the officer was informed accordingly,” he added. It was recalled that Chief Supt. Guillermo Cleazar, head of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said Corpus was replaced by Chief Supt. Bernabe Balba as EPD director effective June 26. “It is NHQ (National Headquarters) command decision,” said Eleazar when asked of the reason of the revamp. “I have no idea, we just received the orders,” he added, when further pressed if Corpus did something that displeased the top leadership of the PNP. Corpus and Eleazar both assumed the EPD and NCRPO post following a major revamp early this month.