PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. yesterday said the 18 police generals and colonels whose resignations were recently accepted by President Marcos Jr. are facing further investigation.
“Most likely, some of them will be charged criminally and administratively,” Acorda told reporters at Camp Crame.
The 18 were among the 953 generals and colonels who heeded the call of Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. to submit courtesy resignations last January as part of efforts to rid the police force of officials with links to illegal drugs.
The National Police Commission (Napolcom) had recommended to the President to accept the resignations of Brig. Generals Remus Medina, Randy Peralta, and Pablo Labra II and 15 colonels.
Acorda said the PNP will still determine from Malacanang if the approved resignation of the 18 officers is from the service or from their positions only.
While the PNP awaits word from the Palace, Senators yesterday urged the PNP to file appropriate criminal charges against the 18, with Senate majority leader Joel Villanueva saying merely dismissing the 18 from the service is “not enough.”
“The full force of the law should be applied to them to serve as a warning to others. Otherwise, we will continue to hear and see this over and over again,” Villanueva said, adding he is confident the PNP leadership “will do the right thing.”
“Under my leadership and with the support of all the officers here, we (in the PNP) will be continuing our monitoring and investigation of not only these personnel in these courtesy resignations but also the others who refused to follow (orders to do their job properly),” said Acorda.
In a radio interview, PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said the 18 can still be subjected to investigation even if their resignations take effect.
“It will continue even if their resignation is already effective. If there is enough evidence that will be gathered that might be filed before the court, their resignations will not be a hindrance in the filing of possible criminal cases against them,” said Fajardo.
“Their resignations will not be a hindrance in going after them. If there is a strong case that can stand in court, we are going to pursue this regardless of their resignation,” said Fajardo.
“As far as I know, their resignation is resignation from the PNP service. (It) means they will be removed from the PNP service,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo, however, could not immediately say when the resignation of the 18 will take effect. Four of them are on “floating status” with the Personnel Holding and Administrative Unit in Camp Crame while the rest are still occupying posts.
Last January, then PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said officers whose resignations will be accepted will be deemed retired from the service and will receive their benefits and entitlements.
“I’m requesting the official copy (of President Marcos Jr.’s order accepting the resignations) to determine how it was worded,” said Acorda.
Acorda said he will seek a meeting with officials from the Office of the Executive Secretary “to clarify these things.”
“Allow us to have the meeting first so we can determine the details of the courtesy resignations, so our interpretation will be clear, and so we will have a better response to you,” said Acorda.
Fajardo said the 18 officials will only receive benefits for their accrued leave after their resignations take effect.
“As soon as the resignations will be effective, they are not going to receive benefits, except the one we call cumulative accrued leave, their accumulated leave. Other than that, they are not going to receive other retirement benefits,” said Fajardo.
THEY SHOULD BE CHARGED!
Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel III said the PNP should conduct a deeper investigation on the 18 and “if good enough for a criminal conviction, then they should file the case.”
Pimentel said the 18 can no longer be charged with administrative cases since they have already resigned.
Sen. Francis Escudero said the filing of criminal charges “is the next logical step” if the officials were found to have “drug links.”
Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada said: “They should and must be charged either way!”
Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. said accepting the resignation of the officials is a “good first step” but the PNP and the Department of the Interior and Local Government should not stop gathering evidence for filing of (a) criminal case “so that those involved should be made accountable.”
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chair of the House committee on illegal drugs, said the President’s acceptance of the resignations of the 18 senior police officers allegedly involved in illegal drug activities “is a welcome move and proves the seriousness of his resolve to curb the drug menace.
“This is a big win in our war on drugs,” Barbers said. “His recent move is but the start of reforming our police structure by replacing scalawags with people of unquestioned credibility, integrity, and competence.”
Barbers said he trusts the President “and we fully support him in his commitment to end this curse and shifting course towards rehabilitation and re-integration of people victimized by illegal drugs.
“In this regard, I call on the NAPOLCOM to continue its constant monitoring of our police officers and their performance in order to make the wisest advice to our President,” he said.
NICA HELPS
The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency will help in the campaign against illegal drugs, smuggling, and hoarding.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año issued the statement in support of the President’s directive issued during his State of the Nation Address last Monday to intensify the fight against illegal activities.
“We firmly support the President’s directive to relentlessly continue the fight against illegal drugs, the arrest and prosecution of smugglers and hoarders, and his commitment to the strengthening and modernization of our Police and Armed Forces,” said Año.
Año said NICA will help by providing intelligence information to agencies involved.
“Towards this end, the National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency will provide actionable intelligence to law enforcement agencies to ensure that the days of these drug syndicates, hoarders, and smugglers are numbered,” said Año.
Año also thanked the President for his continuing support of the flagship programs of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), specifically the Barangay Development Program and Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
“His personal commitment to these programs means that the President is truly determined to address the root causes of armed conflict in the countryside,” said Año.
Año, a former Armed Forces chief, also expressed gratitude to the President for making a commitment to issue a proclamation granting amnesty to all rebel returnees.
“The issuance of this presidential proclamation will be an important step to finally end communist terrorism in the country because this will pave the way for the mass surrender of the NPA remnants in the remaining guerilla fronts of the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front),” he said. — With Raymond Africa and Wendell Vigilia
