PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. (PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)
MANILA – The five-member committee that will vet the courtesy resignations submitted by third-level police officers and look into their possible involvement in illegal drug activities will convene on Monday, according to Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.
“After this press conference, the five-man advisory group will convene this morning (Monday). Before I came here, I met with them. So for this week, we will already discuss the house rules to be used in evaluating and assessing our third level officers," said Azurin, one of the members of the body, in a press conference at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Azurin also said part of the initial discussions is how to accomplish the task in less than three months.
"Our data is available for them to look and see for their evaluation," he added.
He added that an initial draft of the rules on the evaluation process has already been made for the members to check and revise if needed.
The PNP chief also said documents on drug-related cases would also be reviewed by the body.
“This also includes documentations like cases filed by these officers when they were operating sa (in the) war on drugs. The status of the cases they have filed -- whether these cases stood or were eventually dismissed because of some technicalities and why,"
Azurin also said they would still check whether there is a need to include the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth of these police officers in their evaluation.
Aside from the PNP chief, other members of the body are retired police general and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Office of the Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs Undersecretary Isagani Nerez, former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and retired Court of Appeals Justice Melchor Sadang.
In the next three months, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said the committee will conduct an investigation on the police officials and will submit the names of those whose resignations are accepted to the National Police Commission (Napolcom) for another round of verification before submitting their recommendation to the President.
Abalos said he expects the body to conduct a fair and impartial assessment.
He reiterated that monitoring, investigation and case build-up against other police personnel will continue amid the intensified internal cleansing in the police organization.
The five-man committee was formed as an advisory group that will sort thru the courtesy resignation of the PNP officers ranked colonel up to general.
The move aims to cleanse the ranks of officers in the police organization from infiltration of illegal drug syndicates. (PNA)
