217 more PNP senior officers evaluated as crackdown vs 'narco-cops' continues
A total of 217 senior officers have been subjected to assessment and evaluation in the second round of the review of third level officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) as part of the move to eliminate those involved in illegal drugs trade.
Police Col. Redrico Maranan, PNP chief information officer and spokesperson for the PNP Third Level Officers 5-man Advisory Group, said all the members of the Committee were present during the meeting that occurred at around 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 1.
“As of today (March 1), the five-man Advisory Group processed 217 senior police officers after thorough evaluation while the remaining more than 600 are set to be evaluated in the coming week’s either in person or through video conferencing,” said Maranan.
The Advisory Group is composed of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, former Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Undersecretary Isagani Nerez, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr., and, former Court of Appeals Justice Melchor Sadang.
Last week, the Advisory Group evaluated 118 senior officers, all of them holding key positions in the PNP.
Maranan said there would be another meeting scheduled on Thursday, March 2.
Azurin earlier said the Advisory Group has agreed to meet twice a week to expedite the entire process of evaluation of more than 950 PNP third level officers, or those with the rank from Colonel to Generals.
“The five-man Advisory Group targets to finish the screening as soon as possible. However, assessment must be done expeditiously, always taking into consideration the objectivity, fairness and due diligence in the conduct of its proceedings,” said Maranan.
The creation of the Five-Man Committee stemmed from the call of Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos for all PNP third level officers to file courtesy resignation amid persistent reports of recycling of illegal drugs involving PNP personnel.
Maranan explained that the senior officers’ courtesy resignation will be recommended not be accepted if found, after evaluation, that there is no record or no information that they have involvement in illegal drugs and that they are suitable to continue their police service.
“On the other hand, the senior officers who have been found to have derogatory information will be subjected to the next layer of scrutiny by the NAPOLCOM (National Police Commission), and will then be submitted to further validation and investigation,” said Maranan.