PNP CHIEF Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr is scheduled to relinquish command of the 228,00-strong police force today but authorities have yet to announce his successor.
President Marcos Jr is set to grace turnover ceremonies set at 8 a.m. at the PNP national headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Azurin, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1989, will bow out of the service as he reaches the retirement of 56 today.
As of 7:30 last night, no announcement has been made as to who will be the new head of the PNP.
Azurin He took the helm of the PNP in August last year, replacing officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr, now commander of the Area Police Command in Western Mindanao.
Yesterday, a testimonial parade and review in Azurin’s honor was held by the PNP Academy at Camp General Mariano Castañeda in Silang, Cavite.
The previous day, he was accorded the same honor by the PMA at Fort Gregorio Del Pilar in Baguio City.
As of 6 p.m. yesterday, the PNP and the Department of Interior and Local Government have yet to announce the new PNP chief.
Last week, PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said members of the PNP command group are the “usual candidates” for the top PNP post “because they are most senior officers” of the police force.
The PNP command group is composed of the PNP chief, the PNP deputy chief for administration (Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia), PNP deputy chief for operations (Lt. Gen. Jonnel Estomo), and PNP chief directorial staff (Lt. Gen.Michael John Dubria).
Sermonia, a PMA classmate of Azurin, is due for retirement in January next year. Estomo of PMA Class 1992 and Dubria of PMA Class 1991 are retiring in November and December next year, respectively.
Fajardo has said the President has the discretion to appoint a PNP chief who is not a member of the PNP command group. Azurin was the commander of the Area Police Command-Northern Luzon when he was named PNP chief in August last year.
Azurin’s leadership became controversial recently after Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr accused the PNP of a “massive attempt” to cover up the arrest of M/Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr in connection with the seizure of 990 kilos of shabu, worth P6.7 billion, in Manila last year.
Azurin has denied the allegation of Abalos who has gone to the extent of asking 10 police officers, including two generals, to go on leave pending a wider probe on the case.
