PNP CHIEF NAGHAIN NA NG COURTESY RESIGNATION: “THIS IS A TEST OF CHARACTER!”

Kinumpirma ni Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. na nakapaghain na siya ng courtesy resignation kasunod ng panawagang ‘mass resignation’ ni Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos sa lahat ng colonel at heneral ng Pambansang Kapulisan.

“Lahat kami ‘yung command group ko they have already submitted nauna pa yung command group ko na nag-submit kaysa sa akin. ‘Yung mga senior officers (mga generals) they are willing to be subjected to assessment,” ani Azurin sa pagharap nito sa press conference sa Camp Crame.

Ayon sa pinuno ng PNP, bagama’t unfair o hindi patas sa unang tingin ang kanilang resignation, maituturing aniya ito “test of character” para sukatin ang dedikasyon at integridad ng kapulisan.

“At first it would look unfair, but to me, this is an opportunity for the PNP. Sabi ko nga, once and for all kailangan stop na itong malicious accusations against all PNP personnel especially ‘yung mga third-level officers,” ani Azurin.

“So kung ikaw confident ka, kilala mo naman ‘yung sarili mo. This is a test of character. This is a test of individual character. This is about a moral issue,” giit ng PNP chief.

Iginiit din ni Azurin na bagama’t epektibo ang kanilang ipinatutupad na disciplinary mechanism sa hanay ng kapulisan, mas mainan na rin aniy na sumunod sa ipinatutupad na mekanismo ng DILG upang malinawan ang agam-agam ng publiko.

“Ang mahirap kasi diyan eh, parang lahat na lang sa PNP lahat kami involved. Mayroon kaming mga mechanisms, pero ang sasabihin, sila-sila ‘yan eh, niluto lang yan. Kaya nga ang sabi ko we will submit ourselves for the evaluation.”

Aminado rin ang PNP chief na hindi biro ang pagkakasangkot ng ilang opisyal ng PNP sa mga anti-drug operations tulad ng pagkakasamsam ng humigit-kumulang 900 kilong drugs sa isang police sergeant at ang nabistong bentahan ng shabu sa loob mismo ng opisina ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) sa Taguig.

“Yung aming disciplinary mechanism is very effective ‘perse’ but sometimes nga some people create doubts and it affects the organization. Because of the apprehension of more than 900 kilos of drugs in the possession of our sergeant, tapos nahulihan ‘yung PDEA so it creates doubts on the integrity of the law enforcement agency tasked to go against the war on drugs of any administration,” wika ni Azurin.

“We really need to start fresh not only in the PNP kundi pati sa PDEA lalo na sila ‘yung lead agency dito. These are the intervening factors that led to the pronouncement of the DILG upon my recommendation,” dagdag nito.