FILE PHOTO: Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. and other command group members have heeded the appeal of Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and submitted their courtesy resignations.
Azurin did not name the other top PNP officials but confirmed the courtesy resignation of their organization’s number two man, Deputy Chief for Administration (DCA) Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonio.
“Yes, actually, lahat kami dito, ‘yong command group ko, we have already submitted. Honestly, nauna pa nga si DCA (Deputy Chief for Administration) sa akin eh. On the record, nauna pa ‘yong command group ko na nag-submit sa akin,” he said.
“And ang nakakapagtaka no’n, pati si DG-IAS (Inspector General – Internal Affairs Service) will be submitting also,” he added.
This developed a day after Abalos asked PNP generals and colonels to vacate their posts – a surprising move aimed at eliminating police officers allegedly involved in illegal drugs.
According to Azurin, he met with the other PNP colonels and generals, and “there were commitments” to tender their courtesy resignation.
Still, the PNP chief clarified that filing of courtesy resignation is not compulsory.
“So ibig sabihin do’n mo mararamdaman na ‘yong mga senior officials, ‘yong mga general, they are willing to be subjected to an assessment kasi ano ‘yan eh, paulit-ulit na lang na akusasyon sa hanay namin, and this must stop once and for all,” he said.
“‘Yong mga nagsubmit, s’yempre napag-usapan namin kahapon ‘di ba, there were commitments, kasi ‘yong mga nag-attend ng conference kahapon, inisa-isa ko ‘yan na pinakinggan. Sabi ko i-set aside natin ‘yong mga rango, be open, kasi ano ‘yan, career ‘yan eh, kaya voluntary,” he added.
READ: PNP chief Azurin not spared from courtesy resignation — Abalos