From securing the top police post up to the few remaining days in his office, it was indeed a bumpy ride for General Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. as the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP). It took more than a month since the first day of his administration last year before President Marcos picked Azurin as his first Chief PNP and just as he was supposed to be thinking of how he would spend his civilian life when he retires on Monday, April 23, the allegation of a massive cover-up on the P6.7 billion worth of shabu seized in Manila last year had popped up. Outgoing PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. is given a testimonial parade at his alma mater, the Philippine Military Academy, in Baguio City on Sunday, April 22. (photo: PNP) “Maybe rollercoaster,” said Azurin when asked how he would describe his eight-month tour of duty as Chief PNP. “That’s the best way to describe it. Most of the time went down, but we were able to recover,” he added. The first controversy that he faced as the Chief PNP was the allegation that the PNP became too soft under his leadership— brought by his decision to shift to a less-bloody drug war under his “Life is Beautiful” slogan which was aimed at giving second chances to those who were hooked into illegal drugs, part of it is a focus on rehabilitation. “We value the preservation of life. And we do not need to threaten criminals because the guidance of our President is very clear, to make this country a safe place whether they are inside or outside of their home,” he was quoted saying over criticisms that the police suddenly became less aggressive in running after illegal drugs personalities and other criminals. For Azurin, it was just a matter of difference of approach in law enforcement. "Some are insinuating that some (criminals) have to die. But my point of view is that when you kill a criminal, we just end the suffering at the very instance," said Azurin. "But when we start investigating, filing cases and arresting these criminals to place them behind bars, if they still have 30 years to live in this world, then they would wake up everyday regretting the crimes they did to the people," he explained. It was the operation in Tondo, Manila in October last year which appeared to be the toughest since days after his scheduled retirement, he was met with allegations of a massive cover-up from Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos himself. Abalos appeared to be unhappy by the way the PNP was handling the investigation of the involvement of Police master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo, Jr., the key personality in the 990 kilos of shabu seized in Manila. But Azurin insisted that there was no cover-up and that the long process of investigation was aimed at identifying with certainty those involved in the illegal drugs, a statement which was backed by former PNP general and now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong who vouched that the Chief PNP was standing on a moral ground in the fight against illegal drugs. He said the Manila operation only confirmed the reports that he has been receiving over the years as he insinuated that operations that would yield large quantities of shabu appeared to be part of the show of illegal drugs syndicates with the assistance of their cohorts in the police organization. This is the reason, according to Azurin, why he never showed up in on-site media presentations of seized shabu as he does not want to be part of the game plan of illegal drugs syndicates. The same Manila operation resulted in the conduct of ‘purging’ among the senior officers of the PNP through a courtesy resignation asked by Abalos. Azurin chairs the five-man committee evaluating the involvement of more than 900 full colonels and generals in the PNP. So far, at least 917 were cleared with more than 30 still being deliberated. The evaluation process is expected to end in two weeks. “It is the unmasking of PNP personnel involved in illegal drugs that I am very proud of because I was able to accomplish what I was tasked to accomplish,” said Azurin when asked which of the accomplishments would mark his tour of duty as the 28^th Chief PNP. But in terms of legacy, Azurin said it is making sure that his men are all taken care of, which he considered as the most valuable. “When we were still cadets, we were always told that if you take care of your people, then definitely they will take care of you. That’s the legacy that I would leave behind,” said Azurin. Azurin, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1989,  is scheduled to retire on Monday, April 26, which would be marked by a ceremony at Camp Crame in Quezon City. President Marcos is yet to name his successor.