FILE PHOTO: Philippine National Police
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has received more than 800 courtesy resignations from its 956 generals and colonels in support of the government’s “radical approach” to weeding out officers with drug trafficking links, national police spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said Thursday.
Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.’s appeal for the voluntary resignations of high-ranking police officers is gaining support, with more officers heeding his quit call.
“Around 88 percent or 800 plus [officers] as of 5:30 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday),” she told INQUIRER.net in a text message.
To be more specific, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said 841 top PNP officials – 714 police colonels and 126 generals – have already tendered their courtesy resignations.
“Ito ay positibong manipestasyon na katuwang natin sila sa layunin ng pamahalaan sa pangunguna ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na linisin ang kanilang hanay ng mga sangkot sa iligal na droga. Tunay ngang ito ay maituturing na ‘act of honor,’” Abalos said in a statement.
(This is a positive manifestation that they are with us in the goal of the government, led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to cleanse the police ranks of cops involved with illegal drugs. This is truly considered an ‘act of honor.’)
The DILG chief added that they are still expecting 113 senior police officials to turn in their courtesy resignations.
Fajardo had earlier told reporters that not everyone in the PNP was in favor of voluntarily stepping down, with some even questioning whether or not it is necessary now that those with suspected ties to the drug trade have been uncovered.
Fajardo, on the contrary, said that the involvement of certain PNP personnel in illegal drug activities has caused irreparable damage to the reputation of the entire organization.
“Once and for all, we need to step up and take the lead of making the supreme sacrifice of submitting our courtesy resignation,” she said.
READ: Resignation call divides PNP
Last week, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. confirmed that he had approved of Abalos’ call.
Marcos said his administration had long been planning this move, which he said, would steer the government’s anti-illegal drug war approach “in an entirely different way.”
READ: Marcos Jr. says weeding out ninja cops part of new drug war approach
A five-member committee is tasked to conduct an evaluation of the high-ranking police officers who have submitted their courtesy resignations to trace their possible links to the drug trade.
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, a retired police general, is so far the only member of the committee who has been revealed to the public.
READ: Baguio Mayor Magalong in committee going after top cops with drug ties
Former PNP chiefs like Senator Ronald dela Rosa and Guillermo Eleazar have initiated similar internal cleansing measures during their respective stints.