MANILA, Philippines – Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has challenged all high-ranking police officers in the country: To prove their innocence and show they are untainted by the illegal drug trade, they should set an example and turn in their courtesy resignations.
With Azurin’s rallying call on Monday, 24 of the 953 PNP generals and colonels are still holding off their courtesy resignations in support of the government efforts to get rid of drug-dealing cops.
“If they are innocent, the more that they should come out. They should set an example. Innocent ka pala eh (You claim you’re innocent), so you should submit yourself to an assessment and evaluation. Because you’re confident that you are innocent,” he said in a news briefing.
Azurin also believed that top police officers who assert their innocence but won’t tender their courtesy resignations are merely driven by “pride.”
He further noted that subjecting themselves to the screening process is a “test of individual character” that would significantly affect their respective bids to climb the PNP ranks in the future.
“Napakahirap na bawat sa pag-angat mo, laging may isyu na ibinabato at ibinabalik sa’yo. This time, once you’re evaluated about sa involvement sa illegal drugs, dapat wala nang isyu na ibabato sa iyo,” Azurin said.
(It’s hard always to have the same issues thrown at you, haunting you as you rise in the ranks. This time, once you’re evaluated about involvement in illegal drugs, it should no longer be used against you.)
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who had greenlighted the resignation call for senior PNP officers, earlier said the drug menace in the country is made worse because of the involvement of some police personnel in the illicit drug trade.
“Alam naman natin na iyong problema sa drugs, hindi mangyayari iyan kung hindi kasabwat iyong mga iba diyan sa pulis kaya kailangan natin tingnan nang mabuti, sino ba talaga ang kasabwat diyan. Sino ba talaga ang involved? Sino ang hindi na talaga pwede magserbisyo dahil associated na sila sa mga drug lord?” he said.
(We know that the drugs will not be a problem if syndicates are not allied with some people in the police force. That’s why we must thoroughly investigate the accomplices in the drug trade. Who are involved? And who will no longer be allowed to return to the service because of their association with drug lords?)
The high-ranking police officials who have turned in their courtesy resignations will be screened by a five-member committee, which includes retired police general and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong. It will later be turned over and reviewed by the National Police Commission (Napolcom), where Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. sits as chair and Azurin as ex-officio commissioner.
The Napolcom, Abalos noted, may amend or take out but not add names to the list, which it would later submit and recommend to Marcos for necessary action.
Several legislators, groups, and organizations have since slammed the “very radical” approach of the government in purging the PNP ranks of ties to illegal drugs, noting that this only gives erring cops an easy way out.
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