PHILIPPINE National Police Chief (PNP) Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. led the close to 1,000 police officials who tendered their courtesy resignations on Thursday and called on his colleagues to do the same as part of the "cleansing of the police force".
Azurin tendered his resignation a day after Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. called on those linked to the illegal drug trade to step down.
"I heed the call of the Honorable Secretary of the Interior and Local Government and the concurrent chairman of NAPOLCOM (National Police Commission). Thus, I am submitting my resignation from the police service voluntarily," Azurin wrote in a letter addressed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
PNP PIO Chief Col. Rederico Maranan said, a total of 956 ranking officers are expected to submit their courtesy resignation.
The highest-ranking official is a police general.
There are also 812 police colonels, 8 Lt. Generals, 21 Maj. Generals, 114 Brig. Generals who will resign.
Azurin said they submitted to President Marcos 22 names from whom five will be asked by the Chief Executive to stay.
"A stronger vetting process among personnel of these units and among all key positions in the PNP will be implemented with strong resolve. Similarly, our counterintelligence efforts must all the more stepped up to protect the integrity of all police undertakings," he added.
He said that he will submit himself to the soon to be formed evaluation committee that will be by Marcos to determine if he was in any way involved in the narcotics trade, or if he had been tolerating police officers who were.
But Azurin also said that not all officials were pleased with the "request" of Secretary Abalos.
He said that during their command conference with colonels and generals, some expressed apprehension.
Others said they would not resign because this has been their "bread and butter, their career and that they have not committed any wrong for the last 30 years".
Azurin even sent a message saying that the PNP, not the officials personally, is on trial and that they should prioritize the interest of the organization.
He said that while several expressed resistance, he expects everyone to comply before Jan. 31, 2023.
This is not the first time such drastic measures have been used to clean up the Philippine police force.
Former president Fidel Ramos cracked down on police in the early 1990s, ordering all officers over 56 years of age or with more than 30 years of service to resign.
This resulted in the resignation of the PNP chief and nine other senior officers.
No comments:
Post a Comment