FULLY exercise your ‘hire and fire authority.’

This is the instruction given by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. to all his commanders nationwide amid their strict internal discipline program.

The member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ‘Makatao’ Class of 1989 who became the country’s 28th PNP chief has stressed the need for them to be united in all fronts as he reiterated his order for all police commanders in the country to fully exercise their disciplinary authority over their men or be replaced by more competent commanders.

The top cop also ordered the PNP Directorate for Intelligence headed by Major Gen. Michael John F. Dubria to intensify their monitoring of police personnel involved in illegal activities so that the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG) can undertake necessary operations to catch them.

Since last May, the PNP-IMEG headed by Brigadier Gen. Samuel C. Nacion has already sent to jail 18 rogue active, retired or dismissed policemen amid its vow to enforce the law ‘without fear or favor.’

“We are fully committed to continue leading the PNP’s campaign to identify and arrest rogues in government uniform and also to account for those who are already the subject of warrants of arrest for different criminal cases as ordered by Gen. Azurin,” Nacion said

The official said the PNP leadership is very firm on this: “We are showing no leniency to any PNP member, either active, retired, dismissed or suspended who are involved in illegal activities. We are going all-out against these rogues in uniform who continue to defy the law despite the PNP chief’s stern warning. This is our commitment to the PNP organization and the entire public,” said Brig. Gen. Nacion.

Gen. Azurin issued the instruction during his first command conference in Camp Crame on Thursday last week attended by all members of the PNP Command Group, PNP Directorial Staff, 17 Police Regional Office directors and directors of all PNP national operational and administrative support units.

Gen. Azurin said he wants his commanders to be tough against their erring personnel as he noted that about 32,520 or 14.28 percent of the 226,000-strong police force have been investigated for various administrative cases from 2019 to 2021.

The offenses include neglect of duty or nonfeasance, misconduct of malfeasance, irregularity in the performance of duty or misfeasance, conduct unbecoming of a police officer, incompetence, dishonesty, the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases or RRACCS for Non-Uniformed Personnel imposed by the Civil Service Commission otherwise known as the rules on procedure governing the disposition of both disciplinary and non-disciplinary cases in the civil service, and oppression.

PNP records showed that from 2019 to 2021, there were a total of 26, 815 cases of neglect of duty or nonfeasance recorded or 82.46 percent of the total 32,520 administrative complaints investigated during the period.

Others are 3,577 cases of misconduct or malfeasance or 11 percent of the total; 1,032 cases of irregularity in the performance of duty or misfeasance or 3.17 percent; 498 cases of conduct unbecoming of a police officer or 1.53 percent; 240 cases of incompetence or 0.61 percent; 145 cases of RRACCS for NUPs or 0.45 percent; and 14 cases of oppression of 0.04 percent of the total overall complaints.

During his 1st command conference, Gen. Azurin was given updates on the security and threat assessment, operational strategies on anti-criminality, Internal Security Operations or ISO and public safety and crime environment.

The new top cop extended his sincere appreciation to his men for doing a great job in carrying out their administrative, field and operational duties which he said reflect their ‘long-term enthusiasm to maintain our mission.’

“With your help, I know we will be able to address the issues that confront the PNP and ensure that these concerns are being dealt with,” he declared.

Gen. Azurin said that under him, the PNP will launch a nationawie peace and security framework entitled MKK+K which is short for Malasakit, Kaayusan, Kapayaaan and Kaunlaran

“Wherein, the combination of care, order, and peace shall equate to progress,” he said.

The PNP chief said the reforms he will be instituting in the PNP include assigning and reassigning officials to other position, a program to further improve their ‘move, shoot, communicate and investigate’ capabilities and effectively train more police investigators and other officers in their respective fields.

The programs are all geared at ensuring a more effective crackdown against drugs, criminality, terror and corruption, he said.

“The projects and programs that will be implemented are manifestations of my sincere dedication and commitment to achieving the mission of this organization, but there are a lot of things that need to be accomplished,” he said.

“Keep in mind that these things are all geared towards the enhancement of the PNP’s capability to curb lawlessness and criminality. More than ever, our unity as an organization will serve as our most effective tool for us to be able to achieve a total change in the PNP and to give the kind of service that the public so deserves,” he added.

Gen. Azurin emphasized that “the real challenge now is to sustain our commitment to delivering our best in the performance of our respective duties, especially in this time of national health crisis.”

“With this, I urge you to strive in refining our duties to perform our respective responsibilities as enforcers of the law, be truthful and remain dedicated to doing this through effective and efficient means,” the PNP chief added.