JV Ejercito backs DILG chief's call for PNP courtesy resignation
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Thursday, January 5 expressed his support to Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr.’s move to call for top officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to submit their courtesy resignation.
“It was a bold move and probably, based on the statements of the secretary, he is losing his patience because of this perennial drug problem na bumalik na naman (that returned),” Ejercito said in an interview on CNN Philippines’ The Source.
“So, I think if the PNP officials believe they have nothing to hide, that they are not guilty and their conscience is clean, then they can submit their courtesy resignations,” the senator stressed.
“Yes I support, because of the prevailing situation (on illegal drugs). You know, our country is an archipelago. It’s really difficult because before (former) President (Rodrigo) Duterte took over, we became the drug hub of Asia, because it’s really difficult to guard our shores. So we really have to sometimes make drastic decisions or measures so that we can really solve this drug problem,” Ejercito said.
Therefore, he said, the composition of the five-man screening committee that will be tasked to vet PNP officials on who should be reinstated or be investigated further, would be really crucial.
“It's really difficult to (free it from politics and harassment) because you’ll be dealing with PNP officials, but again these are drastic measures, so the composition of the panel will really be crucial,” he said.
Asked on who should be part of it, Ejercito said the Department of Justice (DOJ) chief should be included in the panel.
He also said an “outsider” or somebody from the private sector should also represent, and be part of the five-man screening panel.
“We have to have private representation also, so that there would be an ‘outsider’ and not all government officials,” he pointed out.
On Wednesday, Abalos called on all full colonels and generals, including PNP Chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. to submit their courtesy resignation as he expressed concern over the involvement of high-ranking police officials in the illegal drug trade.
According to Abalos, the five-member panel will be tasked to review the performance of the police officers. The DILG chief, however, refused to identify the members of the panel but assured that he is not going to be one of them.