mamang pulis

Azurin orders ‘restructuring’ of PNP-IAS, IMEG, DEG

January 10, 2023 Alfred P. Dalizon 876 views

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. has ordered the ‘restructuring’ of the PNP Internal Affairs Service, their Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) and the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) amid their stepped up internal cleansing efforts.

The top cop said that amid their full support to the effort of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ S. Abalos Jr. to rid the force of misfits and scalawags, he will initiate the restructuring of the three PNP units which are their frontrunners in the fight against illegal drugs and their internal cleansing program.

“To give more teeth to our disciplinary machinery, our processes in IAS must be further improved to pave way to a speedier disposition of cases. The situation requires that these units be more aggressive and proactive to support the PNP’s thrust on internal cleansing,” he said.

Gen. Azurin added that a ‘more stronger vetting process among personnel of these units and among all key positions in the PNP will likewise be implemented with strong resolve.

“Similarly, our counter-intelligence efforts must all the more stepped-up to protect the integrity of all police undertakings,” he added.

The PNP chief also maintained that disbanding the PNP-DEG is not the solution to the problem. “We need to find a solution that will suit everybody,” he explained.

In 2017, then PNP chief, now Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ M. dela Rosa ordered the abolition of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group after an investigation showed that some of its personnel were behind the kidnapping-for-ransom and later murder of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo a few hundred meters away from their Camp Crame headquarters.

However, dela Rosa ordered the creation of what is now known as the PNP-DEG a few months after the Korean’s murder which embarrassed the whole country and forced then President Duterte to apologize to the Korean government and its people.

Gen. Azurin cited the case of another member of the 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 in 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.

However, he added that the appeal made by Sec. Abalos for all PNP 3rd-Level Officers to submit their courtesy resignation would give them a chance to redeem themselves.

“Yung kasi sa 990 kilos of shabu, ang nangyari kasi is guilt by association. Nung time ni Erap (former President Joseph Estrada), lahat kaming identified sa PAOCTF (Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force) ay nag-suffer for four years. This is unfair to all,” he said.

“It’s more of a leadership issue now. Para sa akin, it’s a big ship followed by a small ship kaya itong call na ito, dito natin makikita kung susunod sila. While it’s voluntary, alam mo naman na hindi ka involved and yet you don’t submit,” he said.

He however said that the officials in their mind also need to be given due process. “We need to give them the due process they deserve,” he explained while adding that the 5-Man Committee will have the power to recommend if a certain 3rd-Level Official should be retained from the force or not.

“In fairness sa mga sinasabing involved, we continuously persuade them to submit para me chance to be cleared, yung mga alluded to be cleared merely because of association. Malay natin, baka puro galing sa mga Marites lang yung mga accusations sa kanila,” he said.

The PNP chief also maintained that the pronouncements of Sec. Abalos is very clear: all of them will remain in status quo. “Meaning once you submit your resignation, you will stay and by that time, alam mo na kung ano yung universe na ginagalawan mo,” he said.

He also maintained that the public need not fear any possible ‘vacuum’ in the PNP leadership since there are readily available officers who will always take over any position.

Gen. Azurin also said that definitely, the ‘reprojection’ of SSgt. Mayo did not happen during the start of the Marcos administration. “Inabutan na lang namin siya when we took over the leadership of the PNP. Then naupo ang bagong administration. Wala naman kaming pinalitan na operatiba and yet we were able to confiscate 990 kilograms of shabu,” he said.

That incident made him question what really happened to the past war on drugs. “Serious ba tong mga to” These are the people listed, they were reprojected, and yet ganito ang ginawa nila, so anong nangyari?

“This time we want to ensure na me vetting, pag me derogatory report ka, out ka. Hindi na puwede na yung dating system, hindi na ganun ang dapat gawin. Ang pulis kahit anong ranggo, there is no justification why you are using, manufacturing, trading or selling drugs, that should be a no-no,” he said.

This brings us back to the same nagging question which is yet to be answered, he said.

“Titingnan mo dito is command responsibility, makikita mo sa backtracking kung sino ang amo niya. Definitely me accountability ka sa mga tao mo, you have responsiblity and accountability on all the things that your people does and fails to do. Bakit hindi it came to your attention na ganun na ginagawa ng tao mo,” he explained.

AUTHOR PROFILE