TOWARDS the end of last year, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos could no longer take the slew of reports about drug trafficking going on in the country, with street value and volume of “shabu” and other drugs breaching P400 million.
Abalos realized that this large-scale business of illicit drugs distribution cannot flourish without the active support and participation of law enforcers, and that the bigger the amount of drugs sold or seized by authorities, the higher in rank are the police or PDEA agents involved in the deal.
It did not take long for Abalos to act decisively on the issue, taking a controversial move that might be construed as unpopular in the rank and file of the Philippine National Police (PNP) but should be taken just the same.
Abalos asked police officials from the rank of full colonel up to generals to submit their courtesy resignations, giving higher authorities a free hand for a top-to-bottom reorganization. Indeed, it was a radical approach to fast-track the internal cleansing in the police organization.
`Knowing the culture inside the PNP, there is reason to believe that the committee’s evaluation process will be under consistent pressure every step of the way — the pressure or influence coming from interested parties who wanted certain officers to pass the test.’
In issuing the order, Secretary Abalos said he also wanted to commend and protect the much higher number of police personnel who put their lives and those of their families in danger in fighting the drug syndicates. It is also an essential cog in the effort to win back the trust and confidence of the people in the campaign against the menace of illegal drugs.
While a majority of top police officials have complied with the order, the other problem is who will evaluate the records and investigate the officers. It should be a committee with top expertise in the work required, aside from unsullied reputation and probity.
The DILG has come up with a five-man panel to do the task: retired police general and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., former defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro, retired police general Isagani Nerez, and former Court of Appeals Justice Melchor Sadang. The committee will hold its first meeting on Monday, February 13.
In the next three months, Abalos said the committee will conduct an investigation on the police officials and will submit the names of those whose resignations are accepted to the National Police Commission (Napolcom) for another round of verification before submitting their recommendation to President Marcos Jr.
Knowing the culture inside the PNP, there is reason to believe that the committee’s evaluation process will be under consistent pressure every step of the way — the pressure or influence coming from interested parties who wanted certain officers to pass the test.
It is incumbent on Secretary Abalos to ensure that this committee will be steadfast in upholding its mandate with fairness and without fear, inasmuch as he was the one who initiated the idea of requesting these resignations and vetting the police officials, separating the chaff from the grain.
It is a daunting task indeed, but it could be done.
