CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The police force in Central Luzon has expressed its full support to the move to cleanse the ranks of the Philippine National Police (PNP) of those involved in illegal drugs.
Brig. Gen. Cesar Pasiwen, Police Regional Office-Central Luzon (PRO-3) chief, said on Thursday the more than 12,000 police personnel in the region are supporting Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos’ call for police officials involved in the illegal drugs trade to submit their courtesy resignation. .
In a press conference at Camp Crame, Quezon City on Wednesday, Abalos asked PNP officials – from colonels to generals – to submit courtesy resignations amid the concerns that some members of the police force were involved in illegal drug activities.
Pasiwen said they are willing to undergo a thorough evaluation process to be cleared of all doubts, insinuations or perceptions as to their service integrity and reputation.
“Over the years, the PNP has been seriously enforcing its intensified cleansing program to weed out misfits and scalawags and it has zero tolerance from any form of misdemeanors,” he said in a statement.
He added that the PRO-3 will continuously support Abalos and PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. to cleanse the ranks of the police and rid the organization of the rogue cops.
Based on records of the PRO-3’s Discipline Law and Order Section, from Jan. 1, 2021 to Aug. 18, 2022, there were 65 personnel dismissed from the police service while 102 were suspended, seven were meted with demotion, one was forfeited of salary, 15 were reprimanded and 842 were exonerated from their administrative cases.
The DLOS is the primary unit tasked to impose disciplinary action against erring police personnel. (PNA)
