A TOTAL of 953 3rd-level officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have already tendered their courtesy resignations to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. as of Saturday, the PNP spokesperson said.

Colonel Jean Fajardo said only three of the original 956 police generals and full-fledged colonels had submitted their resignation letters to President Marcos; she did not identify them.

However, she said on Friday that 130 PNP generals and 774 colonels had filed their courtesy resignations. Fajardo said that initially, they had identified 956 3rd-level officers in the force, but the number went down to 953 following the retirement of three of them last week.

According to the official, PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. will wait until the end of the month for all those expected to tender their resignation to the Commander-in-Chief.

The resignation papers of the officials will have to be transmitted first to the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame before being forwarded to the Office of the President (OP).

On Friday, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” C. Abalos Jr. disclosed that around 95% of the 3rd-level officers of the PNP led by Azurin have already heeded his appeal for them to file their courtesy resignation from the service.

Abalos also thanked the PNP officials for following his appeal for their courtesy resignations so that a “5-Man Committee” can subject them to a thorough validation needed to rid the force of officials linked to illegal drugs.

“Ako’y nagpapasalamat sa tiwalang binigay nila and we will make sure, of course, that our five-man committee would be composed of persons of integrity,” the DILG chief said.

Abalos said that the National Police Commission or Napolcom, which he chairs, will also review the cases of officials whose resignation will be accepted by the five-man committee. “Importante sa akin yun, salang-sala,” he said.

Abalos made an impassioned appeal to all PNP 3rd-level officers to file their courtesy resignation to pave the way for the Marcos administration’s effort to cleanse the PNP of police officials linked to illegal drug activities.

Abalos said that the five-man committee tasked to evaluate the records of the 3rd-level officers can do their job within 2-3 months.

Azurin said that only “less than 10 PNP officers” are on the narco-list, but he refused to name names. He also assured the public that the officials who have tendered their courtesy resignation just like him will continue to stay in their posts until the five-man committee comes up with its final verdict.

The DILG chief said that the “continuous increase” in courtesy resignations was a “positive” indicator that police officials were supportive of the administration’s efforts to cleanse the police ranks of drugs.

“Tunay ngang ito ay maituturing na ‘act of honor.’ Pinasasalamatan natin ang lahat na agad na rumesponde sa ating apila at sa pagtitiwala sa radikal na hakbang na ito. Dahil dito ay magkakaroon tayo ng pagkakataon na tanggalin ang mga ninja cops sa PNP,” he said.