Marcos okays Napolcom recommendation
BY Jocelyn Montemayor and Victor Reyes
PRESIDENT Marcos Jr., acting on the recommendation of the National Police Commission, has accepted the courtesy resignation of 18 PNP officers allegedly involved in illegal drug activities.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO), in a news release, said PNP chief Benjamin Acorda Jr., in a report to the President, said the 18 have been relieved from their posts and were assigned to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit.
The 18 are led by Brig. Generals Remus Balingasa Medina, Randy Quines Peralta and Pablo Gacayan Labra II; Colonels Rogarth Bulalacao Campo, Rommel Javier Ochave, Rommel Allaga Velasco, Robin King Sarmiento, Fernando Reyes Ortega, and Rex Ordoño Derilo.
The rest are Colonels Julian Tesorero Olonan, Rolando Tapon Portera, Lawrence Bonifacio Cajipe, Dario Milagrosa Menor, Joel Kagayed Tampis, Michael Arcillas David, Igmedio Belonio Bernaldez, Rodolfo Calope Albotra Jr. and Marvin Barba Sanchez.
The 18 were among the 953 generals and colonels who heeded the call of Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. last January to submit their courtesy resignations as part of efforts to cleanse the PNP of officers involved in illegal drugs.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said he does not see any problem with the President’s acceptance of the resignation of the 18 officers, stressing “there is no legal issue as long as the resignation was voluntary.”
Acorda said the necessary “orders for their relief from their present positions will be immediately issued and the (resigned) officers will be assigned to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit, DPRM (Directorate for Personnel and Records Management) to preclude them from exerting further influence and/or performing illegal activities using their positions.”
He said that after a thorough investigation by the Napolcom Ad Hoc Advisory Group on the alleged involvement of 953 Third Level Officers in illegal drugs activities, it recommended the “non-acceptance of 935 courtesy resignations and the acceptance of the resignation of the …18 officers.”
The President, in his second State of the Nation Address last Monday, said he will accept the resignation of “unscrupulous law enforcers and others involved in the highly nefarious drug trade.”
Marcos said he will replace them with individuals with “unquestionable integrity who will be effective and trustworthy in handling the task of eliminating this dreaded and corrosive social curse.”
He said his administration will never tolerate corruption or incompetence in government.
He added that his government “will relentlessly continue our fight against drug syndicates, shutting down their illegal activities. We will shut down their activities and dismantle their network of operations.”
EYE-OPENER
Acorda said the President’s acceptance of the resignations of the officers should serve as an “eye-opener” for all policemen, especially those involved in the campaign against illegal drugs.
“I would like to look at it as an eye-opener to each and every officer. It’s high time to take our job seriously when it comes to (the fight against) drugs,” said Acorda.
Acorda said policemen should not be involved in the illegal drugs trade, stressing: “It’s a no-no that we get involved into it.”
Acorda added the PNP has yet to receive formal communication from “higher-ups” about the President’s acceptance of the courtesy resignations.
Acorda said the PNP will continue its relentless operations against drug dealers and traffickers.
Acorda issued the statement after the President, in his SONA, said the continuing fight against illegal drugs has “taken on a new face” and is now “geared toward community-based treatment, rehabilitation, education, and reintegration to curb drug dependents among our citizenry.”
“With regards to the arrest of drug personalities, that will continue. We are focused on identified personalities so it will be intelligence-driven,” said Acorda.
“On the President’s message to focus on rehabilitation and awareness side, we will be aligning accordingly. But we will address the supply side, our operations against (drug) personalities will continue,” said Acorda.
CHARGES MULLED
Abalos said they will study if charges would be filed against the 18 generals and colonels.
“We will look into that, but for purposes of resignation, of acceptance, it was already accepted (by the President),” Abalos said.
“We will study that,” said Abalos when asked if charges would be filed against the 18 officers.
What is certain, Abalos said, is that the President has accepted the officers’ resignation, adding the careers of the 18 is over.
“We will look into it (filing of criminal charges). We are going to determine if there is really strong (evidence) for (a) criminal case,” said Abalos.
“They submitted their resignations, (and) it was accepted. It’s as simple as that. It was recommended (by the National Police Commission) for acceptance,” he said.
Last January, former PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said the officers whose resignations would be accepted by the President will be deemed retired from the service.
“Definitely, if it’s accepted officially, they will be retired and when they retire, of course, they will get their benefits and entitlements,” Azurin had said.
Abalos could not immediately say when the resignation of the officers will take effect. “We will have to wait for the letter (from Malacanang),” he said.
GOING FOR THE KILL
Remulla said the government will further boost cooperation and intelligence sharing with international agencies, including the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, to target criminal syndicates engaged in the importation of illegal drugs to the country.Remulla said this is part of the multi-pronged approach of the Marcos administration against the illegal drugs trade.
The President, in his second State of the Nation Address, departed from violent rhetoric and touted the re-focusing of the drug war campaign that has killed thousands under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Remulla said the health-based approach is one part of the anti-drug war of the Marcos administration, adding that on the part of the DOJ, they will continue the crackdown against those involved in the importation of illegal drugs.
“We are talking about the health-based approach where drug users are victims and need and deserve to be rehabilitated. That is one of the aspect of the rehabilitation efforts para makabalik sila sa ating lipunan, but on my side, may iba pa ring usapan ito ‘yung mga nag-aangkat ng droga kung saan mga criminal syndicates ang mga involved at responsibilidad natin na habulin ang mga taong ito (so that they should be able to reintegrate into society, but on my side, it’s another issue going after those involved in the importation of illegal drugs wherein criminal syndicates are involved and it is our responsibility to go after them),” Remulla said in a press briefing.
Remulla acknowledged that going after the criminal syndicates involves lots of intelligence efforts and coordination with agencies, including abroad.
“We will coordinate with the US DEA, Interpol, and other multi-lateral agencies abroad to stop these and get information that will allow us to arrest and put a stop to the importation of illegal drugs,’ he added.
Government records showed that more than 6,000 drug suspects had been killed in police operations from June 2016 until November 2021. The figure had been contradicted by local and international human rights groups, which claimed the actual death toll stands at around 12,000 to 30,000.
