Some PNP officers refused to file courtesy resignation — Azurin

Some ranking police officers have refused to file their courtesy resignation due to personal and career reasons, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said Thursday.

At a press conference, Azurin said he held a command conference with colonels and generals where he discussed with them the call of Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos for their resignation.

Abalos earlier asked generals and full colonels of the PNP to submit their courtesy resignation as part of the government's efforts to rid the police force of officers involved in the illegal drug trade.

“Lumalabas doon puro personal, ‘Personally, hindi ako magsu-submit’, yun yung sinasabi because this is their bread and butter, ito yung career nila. Sabi nga nila parang wala kaming ginawa for the last 30 years,” he said.

(It turned out that it was all about personal reasons, ‘Personally, I will not submit’, that’s what they were saying because this is their bread and butter, this is their career. They said it seems like they have done nothing for the last 30 years.)

According to Azurin, he told the officers that the PNP, not them personally, is on trial and that they should prioritize the interest of the police organization followed by their individual and their families' interests.

“Laging kong sinasabi (I always say) the organizational interest should always take precedence over yung individual interests natin because we are members of the armed services,” he said.

“When we enter[ed] the service, I think we surrender[ed] majority of our rights and that rights include when you are being called upon and you are being challenged, you should respond because the organization nga who is under trial, e parte ka lang ng organisasyon na to (you are just a part of this organization). Are you not going to heed the call because of pride?” he added.

Despite some resistance, Azurin said there were still commitments from concerned PNP personnel to file their courtesy resignation.

Azurin said he and his entire command group already filed their courtesy resignation.

For Azurin, he only sees less than five ranking officers who are supposedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

According to him, the PNP is targeting that before January 31, all willing police officers would submit their courtesy resignations.

“Ang target date namin sa PNP at least by not later than January 31 ay maka-submit na yung lahat ng magsu-submit (The target date of the PNP is at least before January 31 all those who want to submit will submit.)

A five-member committee will review the resignations of the police officers.

Azurin said the PNP recommended to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. around 22 names to be included in the committee.

“It will always be the President who will select. Actually, we submitted 22 names and it does not limit the President from looking into other possible members ng five-man committee,” he said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News