ILOILO City – A police brigadier general and colonels under the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) vowed to meet the Jan. 9 deadline in submitting their courtesy resignation to the office of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Police Brigadier General Leo Francisco, PRO-6 director, during yesterday’s conference at Camp Gen. Martin Teofilo B. Delgado here, explained to his men the Jan. 4 order of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. is part of the internal cleansing process.
Francisco, who submitted his courtesy resignation on Jan. 5, said a brigadier general and 31 colonels in Western Visayas were given five days to submit their courtesy resignation on Jan. 9, five days after Abalos’ call.
He, however, added that he has no idea if they will all submit their courtesy resignation.
“Hindi ko alam if lahat sila magpasa ng courtesy resignation kasi hindi ko sila tinanong dahil personal decision na nila ‘yon. Basta na-explain ko na sa kanila, including the deadline,” Francisco said.
He said that once they had sent their courtesy resignation, an evaluation will be conducted by an investigating body to determine if their courtesy resignation should be approved or not.
“Kung ang courtesy resignation ay ma-approve, meaning guilty ka at tuluyan mo nang i-vacate ang inyong office. Pero if hindi ma-approve, so babalik ka sa office mo at ipagpatuloy ang pag-serve sa mamamayan. So we have to wait for the result of the evaluation,” Francisco explained.
Meanwhile, during yesterday’s conference, third level officers of the PRO-6 came up with a collective position paper supporting the call of Abalos for courtesy resignations, which he said may be the quickest way for the country to address the drug menace that has infiltrated the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“The third level officers of the Police Regional Office 6 heed the call of the SILG (Secretary of Interior and Local Government) to cleanse the ranks of the PNP of rogue cops involved in illegal drugs, thus we are expressing our full support and cooperation to this noble objective and pursuant thereto, we have executed our personal compliances and undertakings to this effect,” read part of the position letter.
They said they are open to any inquiry on involvement in illegal drug-related activities by a duly constituted administrative body in relation to the noble goal of cleansing the ranks of the PNP.
“We support the chief PNP and the regional director of PRO-6 for taking the lead in the attainment of this goal and we salute them both for taking up the cudgels on this task. We condemn the illegal acts of the PNP officers who have tarnished the reputation of the organization by their involvement in illegal drugs. Rest assured, they shall be brought to the bars of justice,” the letter further stated.
The third level officers also vowed to take all necessary actions to help cleanse the PNP organization that “we all love and have given our life-long honest service, commitment, and dedication.”
“We reiterate our commitment to serve and to protect our communities and our people,” they concluded.
On the other hand, PNP chief, General Rodolfo Azurin Jr., earlier said all colonels and generals of the police force have until Jan. 31 to submit their courtesy resignation.
Azurin himself tendered his courtesy resignation on Jan. 5 along with other top PNP officials.
The PNP chief said a five-member committee which is independent of both PNP and DILG will be handling the assessment and evaluation process.
“We respectfully demand the members of the said committee to maintain their reputation of impeccable character, probity, fairness, and unquestionable integrity throughout the process. At least they are reminded of the careers, reputations, families and even lives of these third-level officers, built for 30 years or more, depending on their hands,” Azurin said.
He, meanwhile, said “less than 10” officials are on the “list” of those who are allegedly involved in illegal drugs. He did not name them.
He said police officials who would be cleared after the vetting process would be made public.
“Definitely we will inform the public so that nobody will tell us, ‘it’s only you and your colleagues inside the organization who conducted the probe’,” Azurin noted, adding that he already discussed the matter with Marcos.
Azurin also said the process will not affect the benefits of officials who are already due for retirement.
“They get their commutation of leaves accumulated through the years, they will receive their pension, until the trial is not over, until they are convicted and that conviction will reach up to the SC (Supreme Court) for finality,” he said. (With reports from PNA)/PN
