Police general denies involvement in issues involving ex-PNP chief Azurin in Canada airport
A ranking official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) denied on Wednesday, Sept. 27, that he was behind the information regarding the supposed deportation of former national police chief Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. from Canada.
This, after reports disclosed that a police official was the one who leaked the information to the media about the supposed interception of Azurin in an airport in Canada.
Police Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, deputy chief for Administration of the Philippine National Police (PNP), stressed that he has no idea why his name was being dragged into the incident.
“Former Chief PNP Azurin may have been fed false stories again to drag my name on the unverified reports of his alleged deportation. There is no reason for me to do what I am being accused of,” said Sermonia in a statement.
“We are family, we are mistahs (in the Philippine Military Academy). And of course, I am sad with what happened,” he added.
Azurin and Sermonia are members of the PMA Class 1989 and their wives are sisters.
Azurin was quoted saying in a text message that a police general could be behind the incident by providing Canadian authorities with “half-truths and many lies” in the hope that he would be deported.
The same text message said that all indicators point to the police general as having something to do with what happened.
Azurin said he will issue a statement regarding what happened and face the media to tell the entire story.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier confirmed that Azurin was held by Canadian authorities in Langley airport in Canada.
Sermonia, however, said he would not dignify the accusations of Azurin.
“I'd rather not dignify the accusations with a reply that may be construed negatively. My advice is to directly ask the Canadian Embassy what the reason for the questioning was which made retired PNP Chief Gen Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. decide to just return to the country as he stated, and not deported,” said Sermonia.
“Canada has its own rules and regulations on border control. So, it is best to secure the report from them. The truth will speak for me,” he added