FURTHER review of the courtesy resignations of 36 police generals and colonels by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) has been recommended by the five-man advisory group vetting the resignations, the PNP disclosed yesterday.
The 36 officials are among the 953 generals and colonels who heeded the call of Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. to tender courtesy resignations last January as part of efforts to rid the police force of officials linked to illegal drugs.
In an interview at Camp Crame, PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said the board completed its evaluation of the courtesy resignations during its last meeting Thursday last week.
“Nine hundred seventeen out of the 953 were cleared. But for the remaining 36, they will undergo further evaluation by the NAPOLCOM,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo said the advisory group recommended to the NAPOLCOM not to accept the courtesy resignations (of the 917) because “based on their assessment and evaluation, they don’t have any involvement in illegal drug activities.”
“But with respect to the 36, I understand they will be subjected to further evaluation by the NAPOLCOM. The ball is now in the hands of NAPOLCOM. The (advisory group) has already submitted its findings,” said Fajardo.
The board is composed of now retired PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., who relinquished his post to Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. last Monday; former Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro; retired Court of Appeals Associate Justice Melchor Sadang; retired police general and now Baguio City mayor Benjamin Magalong; and retired police general Isagani Nerez, an undersecretary for police affairs at the Office of Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs.
Fajardo declined to name names, saying the 36 will remain in their current positions pending NAPOLCOM’s further review of their courtesy resignations.
Asked whether the 36 have been informed, Fajardo said: “I don’t have any information whether these concerned officers were informed or whether they were directed to explain.
“But like I said earlier, let us wait for NAPOLCOM to finish their review and then probably we could ask NAPOLCOM later for some updates prior to their official submission (of a recommendation) to the President,” Fajardo added.
Pressed if the recommendation meant the 36 had links to drugs, Fajardo said: “The recommendation on them is for further screening and review. As to the specific findings, (I have) no info on that.
“NAPOLCOM has administrative control and operational supervision over the PNP. They have the authority and manpower to investigate anything that should be investigated,” added Fajardo.
Acorda also refused to identify the officers due for further investigation.
“This has been done, this has been completed, the process has been completed,” said Acorda, referring to the job of the advisory group.
“It (recommendation) will be submitted to the President and with regards to the names, if you are asking my opinion, I leave that to the President if he wants to make this public or not,” added Acorda.
