MANILA - Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde on Friday said he leaves it up to President Rodrigo Duterte whether or not he should resign before his retirement on Nov. 8.

He had earlier rejected calls for his resignation amid allegations he was protecting "ninja cops" or police officers who resell drugs confiscated in raids.

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"I’ll ask the President on this. I’ll wait for the decision of the President," Albayalde said in an interview with CNN Philippines.

"I will let the President decide on that," he added when asked if he had considered taking a leave of absence.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government has launched an investigation into the allegations made by former police official and now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.

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Albayalde was chief of the Pampanga regional police in 2007 when several of its members were accused of recycling drugs by Magalong, then head of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, whose charges were dismissed due to lack of evidence.

Albayalde was relieved following an allegedly questionable anti-narcotics operation of his men in November 2013 in Mexico town, Pampanga.

Albayalde said the accusation against him "probably has something to do with the person who wants to be the next chief PNP."

"I’m retiring then who’s the next chief PNP? Who’s gonna be the next PNP chief here? This is what we call politics probably in our organization," he said.

The country's top cop also denied that he asked Aaron Aquino, who was then Central Luzon police chief, not to enforce any decision on the policemen’s motion for reconsideration on their dismissal from service.

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"What I want to stress here, whether I called or not, ang sinabi niya (He said) he was never influenced. You can never influence an upper class. He is my upperclassman so I can never influence his decision," Albayalde said.

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Aquino graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1985, while Albayalde graduated in 1986.

Albayalde added that he does not regret contacting Aquino, a move he made as "a commander."

"People will ask help from you. What’s wrong with asking on the status of the case?" he said.

Albayalde said it was through his efforts as Metro Manila Police chief that the President made him PNP chief.

"Did you see our efforts when I was RD (regional director) of NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office)? That was the reason kaya ako naging chief PNP (why I became PNP chief). The President doesn’t even know me. So bakit niya ako gawing (PNP chief)?" Albayalde said.