DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” C. Abalos Jr. on Friday disclosed that around 95% of the 3rd-level officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) led by General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. have already heeded his appeal for them to file their “courtesy resignation” from the service.

“Sa ngayon, I was informed by our PNP chief, General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. na ang nag-su-submit ng courtesy resignation ng ating mga generals at colonels ay umaabot na sa 95 percent. So it’s 904 out of the 954, so 50 na lang,” the DILG chief said in a press conference held at the PNP Star-Lounge in Camp Crame, where he thanked the PNP officials for following his appeal for their courtesy resignations so that a five-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,” Abalos said.

The DILG chief also made another interesting new revelation: 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.

PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo said the 904 included 130 generals and 774 colonels. The official 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.

On a “Friday the 13th,” the PNP 3rd-level officers were asked to “resign” by the DILG chief eight days ago after they paid their “New Year’s Call” on the latter.

Early in the morning, members of the PNP Command Group, the different Directorial Staff, the 17 Police Regional Office (PRO) directors, and heads of the various PNP National Operational and Administrative Support Units, as well as their respective spouses and command group paid their New Year’s Call on Azurin.

Last week, 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.

Journal Group sources said that although the majority of the 953 police generals and full-fledged colonels had already complied with the appeal of both Abalos and Azurin, the rest are still having “second thoughts” about filing their courtesy resignation from the force.

Sources said that those who are having reservations about submitting their courtesy resignation are 3rd-Level Technical Officers, including police lawyers, doctors, nurses and dentists, engineers, and forensic and Information Technology (IT) experts who really have nothing to do with anti-narcotics operations that could have been tainted by accusations of irregularities and other unethical conduct.

These are the members of the PNP Health Service, Engineering Service, Forensic Group, and the Information Technology Management Service who are performing other jobs unrelated to anti-drug operations.

However, officials have expressed hope that the rest would follow suit by the end of the month, although others interviewed by the Journal Group claimed that they had sought the advice of their lawyers regarding the matter.

One of the first PNP top officials to comply with Abalos’ appeal last week, Azurin himself acknowledged that there are some 3rd-level officers who have expressed apprehension or have opposed the move to call for their courtesy resignation.

There are also some who have kept their silence on the issue but have readied their lawyers in the event they are fired from the force and identified as “drug coddlers” or “protectors” without any iota of evidence.

Azurin said that only “less than ten PNP officers” are on the narco-list, but he refused to name names.

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 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.