97 percent of police generals, colonels file courtesy resignations–pnp chief
AT least 97 percent of all colonels and star-ranked officials in the Philippine National Police (PNP) have already tendered their courtesy resignations, General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. revealed on Monday, even as he called on the remaining senior officers to follow suit to give the country’s police force a fresh start.
“I am personally pleased with the response of the 97 percent 3rd level officers who courageously heed to the call of SILG [Secretary of the Interior and Local Government] Atty. Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. and signified their full support to cleanse the ranks of the whole PNP,” Azurin said at a news briefing.
“I am also appealing to those who have not yet heeded to the call of SILG to join us and be a part of this noble intention,” the PNP chief added, as he also led the PNP in celebrating its 29th Ethics Day.
Two weeks ago, Abalos asked all police colonels and generals to submit their voluntary resignations and subject themselves to assessments by a five-man body, whose member include retired police general and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, in a drastic move to weed out police officials with links to illegal drugs from the PNP.
Last week, Abalos said those who would be found to be involved in illegal drugs, but with weak cases, would just be allowed to retire from the police service.
During the news briefing, Azurin said the 97 percent that turned in their courtesy resignations is made up of 929 out of 953 colonels and generals of the PNP.
He again defended the call for the voluntary resignation of senior officers, calling it as a chance for the PNP to address issues affecting the organization and to demonstrate its integrity and solidarity in the middle of challenges it is currently facing.
“We want to ensure that the PNP is a professional and transparent organization. The public must have trust and confidence in the PNP as a whole, and that is why we are taking this big step,” Azurin said.
“We have to keep in mind that the goal of this process is to achieve the highest standards of professionalism within the PNP. Together, at the end of this exercise, the PNP will be triumphant and an organization that we can all be proud of in the future,” he added.
The PNP chief also called on Magalong and the other members of the five-man committee to be fair and impartial in looking into the records of the officials.
“As we dutifully heed to the call, we respectfully demand that the five-man member of the committee who will be reviewing the records and characters of 3rd level officers exercise utmost objectivity and fairness,” Azurin said.
“They must maintain their impeccable character, probity and unquestionable integrity throughout the process, free from political and personal biases, so that the result will be acceptable to all,” he added.
Azurin said the PNP and its members are not perfect, but when they “fall short, we are committed to acknowledging and correcting any mistakes or errors we make.”
Azurin prodded policemen to always strive for excellence and asked them to reflect on the importance of ethics.
“On this Ethics Day celebration, I want to remind our PNP personnel that ethics is not just important within the police organization, but in all aspects of our life. Hence, I encourage each one of you to reflect on your own personal and professional conduct and to strive to be the best versions of yourselves,” he said.