Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 21) – The five-man panel tasked with evaluating senior Philippine National Police (PNP) officials completed on Friday its screening of top cops who submitted courtesy resignation letters as part of a massive internal cleansing program, the PNP Public Information Office said.
On April 20, the committee convened for the 8th time since it was formed on February 13 and concluded its report containing its findings and recommendations on the courtesy resignations of 953 third-level police commissioned officers to determine if they are fit to continue service.
The call for courtesy resignations came from Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos last January as part of a program to internally cleanse the force of cops linked to the illegal drug trade.
PNP Chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr., himself a member of the five-man panel, and members of his command group complied with Abalos’ call and submitted their letters of resignation on January 5.
The panel’s final report will be formally endorsed to National Police Commission Chairman (NAPOLCOM) and Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and subsequently forwarded to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for approval.
“This report is the result of painstaking hard work that speaks well of the objectivity, fairness and integrity of the entire process. The whole exercise is founded on common aspiration of an effective and trustworthy police organization that deserves the trust and respect of the people,” the PNP-PIO said in its statement on Friday.
The five-man panel consists of Azurin, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, former Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro, retired police general Isagani Nerez, and retired Court of Appeals Associate Justice Melchor Quirino Sadang.
