Change-of-command rites, retirement honors set for Azurin

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has tentatively set the change-of-command ceremony and retirement honors for PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. on his birthday on April 24.

A police document showed that the activity was initially scheduled at the PNP Grandstand Transformation Oval at 2 p.m.

Expected to grace the occasion is President Marcos, who was invited as the guest of honor and speaker.

Azurin himself made the request in a letter to Marcos, through Interior Secretary Behur Abalos Jr.

He also thanked Marcos for choosing him as the first PNP chief of the latter’s administration.

“I sincerely appreciate the guidance and support that the President has given during my career in the police service,” Azurin said.

Abalos has yet to submit to Marcos a list of possible successors of Azurin.

At least six names have cropped up as Azurin’s possible successors. Among them are PNP deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia and Lt. Gen. Michael John Dubria, chief of the directorial staff.

Other possible contenders are Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz, director of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management; PNP deputy chief for operations Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo; National Capital Region Police Office chief Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr.