As PNP top execs ‘quit,’ promotions approved below
MANILA, Philippines — While the highest officials of the Philippine National Police are being asked to submit their courtesy resignations, more than 43,000 lower-ranked officers have been promoted.
A total of 43,823 uniformed personnel from the PNP’s 17 regional offices were moved up to the next rank on Tuesday, with Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., chief of the PNP, formally administering the oath of office to some of them at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
“As your leader, I am also expecting your full cooperation in the government’s ongoing internal cleansing program to finally [get] rid of corruption and abuse in the police service, especially those involved in illegal drugs,” he said in his speech.
Based on the records of the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management, out of the 43,823 promoted officers, 406 moved up to the rank of major; 3,568 captains; 273 lieutenant colonels; 1,707 executive master sergeants; 3,507 chief master sergeants; 3,033 senior master sergeants; 5,046 master sergeants; 11,711 staff sergeants; and 14,572 corporals.
‘Not the other way around’
“We asked these newly promoted second-level officers to start cleansing their ranks early on at their level. They should start with themselves, especially if they are involved in illegal drug activities,” Azurin told reporters.
“No PNP personnel should be involved in the use, possession, manufacture, trade or selling of illegal drugs. Because we should be the one implementing the law, we should be the ones going after the criminal, not the other way around,” he added.
So far, nearly 600 police generals and colonels have submitted their courtesy resignations, heeding the appeal made by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos last week, in line with the government’s efforts to weed out high-ranking PNP officials with alleged ties to drug syndicates.
A total of 956 police officials, including Azurin, are expected to tender their courtesy resignations until the end of the month. Their fate would be determined by a five-man committee, whose members were handpicked by President Marcos himself.
According to Azurin, the team’s evaluation would “definitely” involve lifestyle checks to determine the police officials’ possible links to drug trading.
Of its five-man team, only Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong has been confirmed to be a member.
