Police courtesy resignations continue

MANILA, Philippines — Several police officers have filed courtesy resignations in compliance with an order from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), according to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, who was the first to follow the order aimed at weeding out scalawags in the 227,000-strong police force.

In an interview with The STAR at Camp Vicente Lim in Laguna on Friday, Azurin revealed that 19 third level officers in Calabarzon have filed courtesy resignations, including regional director Brig. General Jose Melencio Nartatez and five provincial directors, namely Cols. Christopher Olazo of Cavite, Randy Glenn Silvio (Laguna), Pedro Soliba (Batangas), Donnic Baccay (Rizal) and Ledon Monte (Quezon).

The officials submitted their respective courtesy resignations during the Regional Director’s New Year’s call on Friday. The DILG has jurisdiction over the PNP.

“We filed our respective courtesy resignation before the Regional Personnel Records Management Division in Calabarzon police headquarter,” Olazo said.

The police officers have expressed their support for DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos’ effort to rid the PNP of scalawags, especially those involved in the illegal drug trade.

“I will follow the directive from the national headquarters as a good officer and I know myself that I’m not involved in illegal drugs as user or protector,” Silvio said in text message to The STAR.

Sabulo, Baccay and Monte have also expressed confidence they would come out clean.

The Philippine National Police Academy Alumni Association Inc. (PNPAAAI) Board of Trustees headed by retired Maj. Gen. Gilbert Cruz has announced its support for Abalos’ order issued on Wednesday to complement the fight against illegal drugs.

At Camp Olivas in Pampanga also on Friday, Central Luzon or Police Regional Office-3 director Brig. Gen. Cezar Pasiwen led 16 police officers in the signing of courtesy resignations, in the presence of Azurin.

“The entire PRO3 personnel are giving their all-out support to our SILG (Secretary of the Interior and Local Government) and our chief PNP in their call for genuine internal cleansing program,” Pasiwen said.

Cordillera police director Brig. Gen. Mafelino Bazar, for his part, led 18 top officials – two brigadier generals and 16 colonels – in tendering courtesy resignations after meeting with them at Camp Major Bado Dangwa Friday.

“I support and accept the challenge to tender courtesy resignation, with all of the 3rd level officers of PROCOR (Police Regional Office Cordillera). We talked about and agreed unanimously to tender our courtesy resignation addressed to the President,” he said.

Meanwhile, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, a retired PNP general, has accepted his appointment by President Marcos to the five-man team that would examine the background and performance records of officials who filed their courtesy resignations.

He said Abalos informed him of his new task before midnight on Thursday. – Ric Sapnu, Artemio Dumlao, Ramon Efren Lazaro