HRW frowns at resignation call for ranking PNP officials

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday expressed doubt that something will come out of the call for ranking police officials to resign in an effort to rid the police force of erring officials, particularly those involved in illegal drugs.

"The short answer is that trusting the police to voluntarily resign if they were somehow involved in abuse is a recipe for nothing happening in the Philippines," HRW deputy Asia director Phil Robertson said at a press briefing.

Robertson issued the remark when asked if the call of Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos to police generals and full colonels to resign will ensure that the police force will be rid of officials involved in the illegal drug trade.

In a move he himself described as "radical," Abalos last week asked PNP generals and full colonels to submit their courtesy resignations in order to give the PNP a "fresh start."

A five-man committee, Abalos said, will review the resignations and make recommendations to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Abalos said the move is a shortcut for the long process of the justice system.

So far, between 500 to 600 ranking police officials have heeded Abalos' call.

Abalos has also said that PNP officials have nothing to worry about if they are not involved in any wrongdoing. —KBK, GMA Integrated News