Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.
MANILA, Philippines – Newly installed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. on Monday defended the major reshuffle that affected at least 70 senior officials, including his second and third in command.
As a result of the change in PNP hierarchy, Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia became chief of Area Police Command (APC) in the Visayas and Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. became chief of APC Western Mindanao.
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“Kailangan pag-aralan natin what is best for the organization (We need to study what’s best for the organization), and I think the only thing I had in mind when I did that was for Vic [Danao] and Rhodel [Sermonia] to have the opportunity to have regions that they are going to supervise wherein they can also shine in their own respective fields, considering that they are very competent in their own respective expertise,” Azurin said during a press briefing at Camp Crame.
He then described Sermonia as a “good advocate in organizing and mobilizing the community.”
“Nakikita naman natin on record kung saan isa-isang pinapatay ang ating pulis sa Samar…We need somebody there to organize and bring awareness to all the different barangays in the Visayas region na pagtulong-tulongan itong problema natin sa insurgency,” he further explained.
(We saw on record that more police officers in Samar are being killed, and we need somebody there to organize and bring awareness to all the villages in the Visayas region so they can counter the insurgency problems together.)
Meanwhile, Danao’s assignment in Western Mindanao would help address the existing problems in implementing laws in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, according to the country’s top cop.
Asked about the required confirmation from the National Police Commission (Napolcom) on the reassigned third-level officials, Azurin noted that the PNP historically reorganizes its personnel before earning a nod from Napolcom.
He, however, still expressed willingness to seek dialogue with the commission to resolve this issue.
“We have to iron out iyong differences namin ng Napolcom, and I respect that particular Napolcom Memorandum Circular,” Azurin said.
(We must iron out our differences with Napolcom, and I respect that particular Napolcom Memorandum Circular.)