PNP: 917 cleared in police drug links probe, 36 under deeper assessment

Facade of the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame. Image from pnp.gov.ph website

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced that out of 953 ranking lawmen assessed for links to the illegal drug trade, 917 were cleared after the first review.

The remaining 36 will undergo further evaluation, but the assessment body recommended the rejection of the courtesy resignations of the cleared third-level police officers, according to PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo.

The assessment committee already submitted findings to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and National Police Commission (Napolcom) for further analysis, she said.

“Nine hundred seventeen (917) out of the 953 have been cleared,” Fajardo told the reporters. “But for the remaining 36, they will undergo further evaluation by Napolcom.”

After a deeper assessment is done by the DILG and Napolcom, the findings will be submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for final review.

The five-person committee started its review of the 953 ranking police officers who submitted their courtesy resignations in January after DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. had called on all PNP colonels and generals to submit their courtesy resignations in the wake of allegations that high-ranking police officials are linked to the illegal drug trade.

PNP officials whose resignations are accepted will be asked to retire regardless of their remaining years of service in the police force.

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