President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has accepted the resignation of 18 police officers allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade almost a day after declaring that he will be waiting for them to step down.
Before leaving for Malaysia on Tuesday, July 25, Marcos announced the resignation of18 third-level officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) allegedly involved in illegal drugs activities.
The resignations, the President said, were upon the recommendation of the National Police Commission Ad Hoc Advisory Group tasked to investigate the matter.
Marcos was informed about the officers' courtesy resignations through a letter from PNP Chief Benjamin Acorda Jr.
The resigned officers were among the 953 who are under investigation for alleged drug trade link. They were identified as:
1. PBGEN Remus Balingasa Medina O-10038
2. PBGEN Randy Quines Peralta O-05124
3. PBGEN Pablo Gacayan Labra II O-03734
4. PCOL Rogarth Bulalacao Campo O-08477
5. PCOL Rommel Javier Ochave O-08085
6. PCOL Rommel Allaga Velasco O-08084
7. PCOL Robin King Sarmiento O-03552
8. PCOL Fernando Reyes Ortega O-07478
9. PCOL Rex Ordoño Derilo O-10549
10. PCOL Julian Tesorero Olonan O-12395
11. PCOL Rolando Tapon Portera O-07520
12. PCOL Lawrence Bonifacio Cajipe O-12905
13. PCOL Dario Milagrosa Menor O-07757
14. PCOL Joel Kagayed Tampis O-08180
15. PCOL Michael Arcillas David O-07686
16. PCOL Igmedio Belonio Bernaldez O-12544
17. PCOL Rodolfo Calope Albotra Jr O-08061
18. PCOL Marvin Barba Sanchez O-08043
According to Acorda, these officials are continuously being monitored and necessary “orders for their relief from their present positions will be immediately issued and the (resigned) officers will be assigned to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit, Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) to preclude them from exerting further influence and/or performing illegal activities using their positions.”
Marcos announced in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday that he would be accepting the resignation of “unscrupulous law enforcers and others involved in the highly nefarious drug trade.”
He further said that he will thereafter appoint individuals with unquestionable integrity to lead the government’s campaign against illegal drugs as he emphasized that his administration is putting “a new face” to the campaign.
"In their stead, we will install individuals with unquestionable integrity, who will be effective and trustworthy in handling the task of eliminating this dreaded and corrosive social curse. We cannot tolerate corruption or incompetence in government," the Chief Executive said.
He also declared that the government "will relentlessly continue our fight against drug syndicates, shutting down their illegal activities."
Read more: https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/24/marcos-awaits-resignation-of-drug-linked-law-enforcers