The evaluation and screening of the records and documents of 953 senior officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who submitted courtesy resignation as part of a radical internal cleansing program in the organization has finally been completed and is set to be presented to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., it was announced on Friday, April 21.

(PNP Chief Police Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. / File photo via Manila Bulletin)

Police Col. Redrico Maranan, acting chief of PNP public information office (PIO), said the five-member advisory group that evaluated the records of the police colonels and generals convened on Thursday, April 20, to determine the fitness of all the senior officials to continue serving the PNP.

The advisory group is composed of PNP Chief Police Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.; retired police general and incumbent Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong; retired police general and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs Undersecretary Isagani Nerez; former Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro; and retired Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Melchor Sadang.

“The five-man member body has wrapped up work and drafted its report containing findings and recommendations,” Maranan said although he did not disclose further details on the results of the evaluation.

He said the report will be formally endorsed to National Police Commission (Napolcom) Chairman and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. “for final review and subsequent presentation to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for approval.”

On January 4, Abalos had appealed to all PNP colonels and generals to submit their courtesy resignation after he found out that there were senior officials allegedly involved in the illegal drugs trade.

The DILG Chief’s radical internal cleansing of rogue cops in the PNP stemmed from the series of incidents that involved the confiscation of 990 kilos of “shabu” worth P6.7 billion from dismissed Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. in an anti-illegal drug operation in Manila in October 2022.

Shortly after that, Azurin had submitted his courtesy resignation –  even if he was already nearing retirement – to set an example to other senior officers of the PNP. 

Azurin will retire on Monday, April 24, at the age of 56 after serving as the country’s top cop for nearly nine months.