PNP: 13 cops still holding positions even after President accepts resignation

A police officer passes by the logo and values/motto painted by the perimeter wall of the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

Majority of the 18 third-level officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) whose courtesy resignations have been accepted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have remained in their present positions.

Speaking to reporters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, on Thursday, Police Col. Jean Fajardo, spokesperson for the PNP, said 13 officials were still holding their posts, while five were on floating status and reassigned to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit of the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management.

“The 13 are still occupying their present positions while waiting for the decision if they will be relieved pending the processing of their resignations,” she added.

According to Fajardo, the PNP has yet to receive an official communication on the fate of the 18 third-level officers composed of three brigadier generals and 15 colonels.

“There was an earlier pronouncement before that once your resignation will be accepted you will be considered as optionally retired for purposes of receiving your retirement benefits. That’s what we have to clarify, the status of the 18 if they are indeed included in the document signed by the President,” she explained.

The PNP did not say when the resignation of the 18 officials would take effect or if appeals would be possible, but Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., chief of the PNP, said they should all be relieved from their current posts “to preclude them from exerting further influence and/or performing illegal activities using their positions.”

Courtesy resignations

Mr. Marcos on Tuesday announced that he accepted the courtesy resignations of 18 out of the 953 PNP generals and colonels who submitted their resignations in January.

The highest officers to be axed from the service were Brigadier Generals Remus Medina, Randy Peralta and Pablo Labra II, who all belong to PNP Academy Tagapaglunsad Class of 1993.

Both Medina and Peralta served as back-to-back directors of the Drug Enforcement Group, PNP’s main antidrug unit, from April 2021 to July 2022. All three generals had been placed on floating status.

The President also accepted the courtesy resignations of Colonels Rogarth Campo, Rommel Ochave, Rommel Velasco, Robin King Sarmiento, Fernando Ortega, Rex Derilo, Julian Olonan, Rolando Portera, Lawrence Cajipe, Dario Menor, Joel Tampis, Michael David, Igmedio Bernaldez, Rodolfo Albotra Jr. and Marvin Sanchez.

Acorda said that all of the 18 officials would be put under “continuous monitoring and investigation.” INQ

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