Initial recommendations on 118 PNP resignations to be submitted to NAPOLCOM —Azurin

The initial recommendations on 118 courtesy resignations of senior police officers are set to be submitted to the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), Philippine National Police chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said Monday.

Azurin told reporters that the advisory group is still finalizing the recommendations on the resignations of 118 third-level officers, which they processed in their latest meeting on Friday.

"So we are finalizing yung aming recommendation para i-forward sa NAPOLCOM para sa kanilang review at evaluation," said Azurin in an ambush interview. 

(We are finalizing our recommendation so we can forward it to the NAPOLCOM for their review and evaluation.)

According to Azurin, some of the 118 senior police officers are commanders, team leaders, and staff officers of the PNP.

Asked if these officers are cleared or considered connected with illegal drugs, Azurin said he would divulge such information in a different time.

On January 4, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos appealed to senior PNP officials to submit their courtesy resignations as part of the government's efforts to rid the police force of officers involved in the illegal drug trade.

He said this was "the only way to make a fresh start" in the PNP, as he expressed concern over the involvement of some ranking police officers in the illegal drug trade.

A five-man advisory group, including Azurin, will review the resignations. The NAPOLCOM will again assess the police officers whose resignations are accepted by the group. 

It will then be forwarded for the approval of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

On Friday, the PNP said 118 PNP senior officials had already been processed and the remaining over 800 are set to be reviewed in the next few weeks.

Azurin said the advisory will hold its meetings every Wednesday and Thursday.

On February 13, Azurin said they are targeting to finish the review on PNP resignations in three months. —VAL, GMA Integrated News