PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. on Monday maintained they have not monitored any destabilization plot supposedly involving some Armed Forces officials.

He also said there is no truth to reports they are monitoring movement of military troops and at the same time brushed off suggestions to subject PNP officials into a ‘loyalty check.’

Gen. Azurin however said he has directed the director of the Cordillera Police Regional Office, Brigadier Gen. Mafelino Bazar to look into the possible lapses of one of his officers as far as document security is concerned.

The Cordillera police official is being probed in connection with a ‘leaked memorandum’ regarding the PNP security preparations last week which some members of the media and anti-government personalities mistook for a brewing military unrest. He will be facing administrative charges in the event he is found to have committed lapses in the handling of the security document, Gen. Azurin said.

Gen. Azurin said that they went into alert last Saturday since it is normal for them to be ready each time there is a turnover of command in the AFP or the PNP.

“Very normal yun na pag me turnover of command, whether in AFP or PNP, we expect na Commander-in-Chief ang presiding officer kaya very normal na alert kami,” he said.

He added that the presence of V-150 armored personnel carriers moving inside the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame is also normal on a weekend since they have to be moved once in a while s part of their regular maintenance checkup.

“Yung V-150 na me picture, I was told by the camp commander that regular maintenance checkup yun kasi kung palaging naka-stock, hindi tumatakbo, masisira,” he said.

Gen. Azurin added that he talked with returning AFP Chief of Staff, General Andres C. Centino on Sunday night and that the latter assured him that the AFP will work hand-in-hand with the police force in ensuring that the Marcos administration will be ‘very stable.’

“We are not monitoring the movement of AFP troops, hindi totoo yan. Ang totoo, naka-heightened alert kami dahil sa Traslacion sa Quiapo and due to the Sinulug festival in Cebu this month,” he said.

The PNP chief turned down suggestions that he order a ‘loyalty check’ in the 227,000-strong police force particularly its Officers Corps. “Our intelligence units are validating kung sino nagpakalat ng mga supposed destabilization reports nay un. Pero personally, ako I certain na mas marami ang iniisip ay yung maayos na serbisyo sa PNP. For me, I don’t want to call it a loyalty check, it’s more on propriety, the ethical way of every police officer in conducting their day-to-day activities, it’s professionalism,” he added.

Gen. Centino on Saturday morning formally returned as the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines replacing his mistah from Philippine Military Academy ‘Maringal’ Class of 1988, Lieutenant Gen. Bartolome Vicente O. Bacarro.

The AFP change of command ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo was presided over by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. Also present during the turnover rites was Special Assistant to the President, Secretary Antonio Lagdameo Jr.

Gen. Centino thanked President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. for the ‘trust and confidence in my designation as chief of staff’ and said he is ‘ready to lead.’

Gen. Centino already served as AFP’s chief of staff from November 12, 2021, to August 8, 2022.

During his previous stint as AFP chief of staff, Centino implemented four major thrusts including operational efficiency, optimal use of resources, advancement of professionalism and meritocracy within the organization, and capability development.

“Centino pushed for the completion of capability projects as part of the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” a Palace statement read.

“Also, during his tenure, he led the units of the Armed Forces nationwide in advancing the peaceful and orderly conduct of the Philippine 2022 national and local elections,” it added.

Gen. Centino also used to be the commanding general of the Philippine Army, the commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, the Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and commander of the Army’s 401st Infantry Brigade.