PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. underscored anew that officers and men of the 227,000-strong force who are directly or indirectly involved in illegal drug activities have no room in the organization and should be unmasked, fired and jailed.

“I have been saying it again and again, wala dapat PNP officers or men na involved in the use, possession, manufacture or even sale and trade of illegal drugs. That should be a no-no for everyone in the PNP,” said the top cop amid the appeal of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr. for all PNP 3rd-Level Officers to file their courtesy resignation as part of his move to cleanse the force of officials linked to drugs.

Gen. Azurin said less than 10 of the 956 PNP generals and colonels are being investigated for drug activities since last year although he refused to identify them. However, he said that now is the right time for all of them to prove their accusers wrong by having themselves subjected to a vetting by the 5-Man Committee to be formed by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr.

The top cop admitted that during his talk to his officials last week, many have aired their commitment to heed the appeal of Sec. Abalos although some are against it. “Personally, some said they won’t resign. Ang thinking nila, para bang wala kaming ginawa in the past 30 years but I told them we should think of the organization, and of course, yung family natin where we get our strength,” he said.

The PNP chief said that subjecting themselves to a scrutiny by the 5-Man Committee will give them the chance to prove their critics wrong. “Once our courtesy resignation is not accepted, that means we are clean. Hence, everything will be honorable for us even if we are already retired from the service. What we really need here is a clean slate,” he explained.

Gen. Azurin said that it will also give them the opportunity to put a stop to all ‘baseless and malicious innuendoes’ by some people against the organization.

He also maintained that their disciplinary mechanisms are indeed effective but there are times when doubts are being cast on the integrity of some of their units.

He cited the case of a member of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) identified as Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. who was arrested after he sold two kilograms of shabu worth P13.6 million to an undercover agent of the PNP-DEG along Quezon Bridge in Manila in October.

A follow-up operation conducted by the PNP-DEG headed by Brigadier Gen. Narciso D. Domingo Jr. resulted in the arrest of Ney Atadero, a civilian accomplice of the cop during a buy-bust operation in Ermita, Manila. It also led to the discovery of around 990 kilograms of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ inside the Wealth and Personal Development Lending Inc. located at 1742 Jose Abad Santos Avenue in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Several colleagues of Mayo have been placed under investigation in the aftermath of the huge drug recovery.

Gen. Azurin said SSgt. Mayo was one of those ‘reprojected’ during the former administration, meaning he was among those cops transferred to Mindanao for alleged drug links but was returned to his mother unit since some officials recommended his return.

“Mayo was part of those reprojected pero ano ang ginawa nila. Lahat ba tayo naniniwala na sa level lang ni Mayo yun,” he said.

Gen. Azurin said that at first, the probe would look unfair for majority of the PNP officials but for him, “it is the chance to stop once and for all these malicious accusations against the force. Kilala mo naman ang sarili mo. Magsa-submit ba ako.” Me duda ka ba na hindi ka makalusot sa Committee. Actually, this is a test of individual character, this is a test of moral issue,” he said.

According to the PNP chief, he is supporting Sec. Abalos knowing fully well that majority of his officials are not in anyway involved in illegal drugs.

“These are the future leaders of the PNP. We will all be retiring in a matter of months at ayaw natin na yung iiwanan nating PNP ay the same. Maganda diyan, pag na clear ang 3rd level officer, gusto ba nila na ganun pa din ang gagawin sa time nila? That’s why there is a need for a sweeping change,” he added.

Gen. Azurin also said he does not want a repeat of the controversies that hounded at least six police generals during the former Duterte administration. “Kaya nga me 5-Man Committee. We wanted to protect our 3rd-Level Officers kasi before, six generals ang nalaglag pero no cases were filed against them,” he said.

He added that there were also a number of officers who, due to their association with those generals, are still suffering up to now. “They can’t be placed in positions kasi dahil sa links nila. Pag na-clear sila, we have to respect the decision of the 5-Man Committee,” he said.