THE National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) is set to start an investigation preparatory to the filing of administrative and criminal charges against two generals and two colonels of the PNP allegedly involved in illegal drugs.
In a press conference yesterday, Interior Secretary and concurrent NAPOLCOM chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. said it may take two to three weeks to determine the possible liability of the senior officers, who were not identified pending the result of the pre-charge investigation.
The investigation is being conducted on the recommendation of the five-man advisory group that reviewed the courtesy resignations tendered by 953 generals and colonels last January. The panel also recommended that the resignation of the four officers be accepted.
In all, 953 police generals and colonels heeded the call of Abalos.
The advisory group recommended to NAPOLCOM the non-acceptance of the resignations of 917 officers. It also recommended the acceptance of the resignations of four and further review of the remaining 32.
A few days ago, President Marcos Jr. accepted the resignation of the two generals.
Abalos, however, said he has yet to receive a formal communication from Malacanang about the acceptance of the generals’ resignation.
“What we will do is we will wait for the actual letter, the transmittal of the communication, of the letter, is important to us. We are waiting for it,” said Abalos.
Abalos added the NAPOLCOM is due to commence the pre-charge investigation against the two generals and two colonels, who were previously assigned with the PNP Drug Enforcement Group.
Abalos said now retired PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. submitted to the NAPOLCOM a complaint affidavit against the two generals for grave misconduct and grave neglect of duty, among others.
The complaint, Abalos said, was forwarded by Azurin last April 24 when he reached the retirement age of 56. Azurin is one of the members of the advisory group and an ex-officio member of the NAPOLCOM while he was still the PNP chief.
“The penalty for these offenses is dismissal, forfeiture of benefits, and perpetual disqualification from any public office,” said Abalos.
Abalos said NAPOLCOM issued a resolution yesterday to proceed with the pre-charge investigation against the two colonels, who face the same penalty if found guilty.
“We are still in the pre-charge (investigation) and it might be completed in two to three weeks. Once it is filed, that’s when we are going to name these four,” said Abalos.
“There will be hearings, this might take two to three weeks,” added Abalos.
Abalos clarified that if the President accepts the courtesy resignations of the four generals and colonels from the service, this is without prejudice to the filing of criminal and administrative charges against them.
“Even if their resignations are accepted (by the President), we will still pursue the cases against them. Even if they are resigned, the cases against them will continue,” said Abalos
Abalos assured the public that NAPOLCOM “will carry out its sworn duty to supervise and strengthen our police force.”
‘PROPER VETTING’
PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. yesterday said policemen will undergo “proper vetting” before they assigned to units involved in the continuing war against illegal drugs.
Acorda made the pronouncement amid recent findings about the involvement of some personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) in illegal drugs.
About three weeks ago, the PNP’s Special Investigation Group (SITG) 990 recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against erstwhile PDEG chief Brig. Gen. Narcisco Domingo and 48 other PDEG personnel involved in the controversial seizure of 990 kilos of shabu worth P6.7 billion in Manila last October.
“The anti-illegal drug campaign shall be done by ensuring the proper vetting of PDEG and DEU (Drug Enforcement Unit) personnel to make sure that only those who have successfully undergone the vetting process will be assigned with anti-illegal drugs units,” said Acorda.
The strengthened conduct of vetting process of personnel who will be assigned with PDEG was actually one of the recommendations made by the PNP SITG 990. It proposed that the vetting be done by the PNP Intelligence Group and the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group.
Acorda reiterated that the PNP, under his watch, will be aggressive in the campaign against illegal drugs. Acorda assumed command as PNP chief last April 24, replacing Azurin. “The anti-illegal drug operations shall be aggressive against big time drug personalities or high value individuals through our supply reduction efforts while we continue to cooperate and support the BIDA (Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan) program of SILG Atty Benjamin Abalos Jr focusing on demand reduction,” said Acorda.
Acorda also announced that from January 1 to May 7 this year, the PNP has conducted a total of 16,657 anti-drug operations throughout the country.
He said these operations led to the confiscation of a “big quantity of shabu, amounting to P5.6 billion” and the arrest of 22,116 (drug offenders).”
PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said there is actually vetting of personnel prior to assignment to PDEG and DEU units.
What is going to happen under the new PNP leadership, Fajardo said, is a stricter vetting process to avoid instances where personnel are assigned with these units despite “derogatory records.”
“Background investigation will be intensified and field commanders who are conducting the background investigation will have to sign the background investigation (report),” said Fajardo.
“It has to be put into writing so that if there will be problems later on (with these personnel), we will go after those who conducted the background investigation, we will hold them accountable,” added Fajardo.
During the flag-raising rites at Camp Crame, Acorda reiterated his five-point action plan, including the prioritization and “aggressive and honest operations that respect human rights and increase conviction rate.”
“We will intensify our operations against all forms of criminal and illegal activities while upholding the highest standards of integrity and transparency,” added Acorda.
Acorda’s action plan also includes “integrity enhancement,” which he said is the foundation of the police profession.
“We will strengthen our internal mechanisms to prevent corruption, promote transparency, and ensure adherence to the highest ethical standards. Also, we will not tolerate any form of misconduct, and we will ensure that all officers are held accountable for their actions. this will be at all levels,” said Acorda.
