Hushed probe of police generals under way
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — More than a hundred high-ranking officials of the Philippine National Police, who submitted their courtesy resignations last month, have so far been screened by the panel tasked to check for their possible involvement in illegal drugs.
During the five-man committee’s second meeting on Friday afternoon, 118 senior officers were processed, while the remaining more than 800 are set to be evaluated in the next meetings, which were agreed to be done twice a week either in person or through video conferencing, according to Col. Redrico Maranan, PNP public information office chief.
The results of the initial assessment, particularly if any of the screened PNP officials were found to be connected to illegal drug trading, were not shared to reporters.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos last month said there would be no public shaming of any high-ranking police officials, saying the findings by the independent committee would be treated with confidentiality.
Also at Friday’s meeting, the body agreed to finalize and adopt the guidelines and procedures of the evaluation process, were were also not publicly revealed.
Maranan said the body agreed that the vetting of third-level officials occupying key PNP positions will be prioritized, “because they are assigned in important positions necessary for the PNP to run smoothly.”
Key posts in the police force include the top brass — the PNP chief, the deputy chief for administration, deputy chief for operations and chief of the directorial staff — the heads of the 11 directorates and four area police commands.
Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., chief of the PNP, was among the first who filed his courtesy resignation, but it was not accepted by President Marcos.
Azurin is one of members of the five-man screening committee, which convened early this month. He was joined by retired police general and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Office of the Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs Undersecretary Isagani Nerez, retired Court of Appeals Justice Melchor Sadang and former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.
Azurin announced on Thursday a reshuffle of key officers in the PNP, promoting Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, who was the erstwhile chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, to third-highest PNP official as deputy chief of operations.
Estomo will be replaced by Maj. Gen. Edgar Allan Okubo at the Metro Manila police. Estomo, on the other hand, replaced Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr. who was reassigned to the Office of the PNP Chief.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Rudolph Dimas took over Okubo’s post as chief of the Special Action Force, while Brig. Gen. Westrimundo Obinque will now head the Police Regional Office 5 (Bicol), replacing Dimas.
