PHILIPPINE National Police chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. yesterday said he has already talked with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to explain the truth behind the controversial P6.7-billion shabu bust in Manila last October and warned the Commander-in-Chief to be careful in selecting the one who will replace him once he retires from the post this coming July 24.

“I have to warn the President, be careful in selecting my successor. I don’t want to be disrespectful to the President, sinagot ko sa kanya mga issues, na hindi totoo na I’m covering up for (Sergeant Rodolfo) Mayo. I’d like to forewarn the President na very critical ang papalit sa akin,” the top cop said in noting the need for a tough PNP chief who will continue the administration’s war on drugs.

Gen. Azurin said he is yet to recommend his successor to the Commander-in-Chief.

“Yung Presidente natin ay napakatalino na tao. Hindi mo siya mai-influence. Wala akong binanggit na sinuman. Nung makita niya report, nandun yung report ng SITG 990. Ang sabi ko lang, yung susunod na Chief,PNP, dapat niyang pagisipang Mabuti Sir. Yung pipiliin mong Chief,PNP, interviewin mo sila and you will know kung sino pipiliin mo,” he said

“I did not name names. My suggestion lang is, Mr. President, if you have time, interview them. Napakatalino ni Presidente. Tumawa lang siya, I don’t know if he’s agreeing with me pero nakikinig siya,” Gen. Azurin said.

The top cop said it is very clear to him that syndicate behind the foiled distribution of more than a ton of shabu last year is trying to muddle the ongoing investigation of the SITG 990 headed by Major Gen. Eliseo DC Cruz and have come up with issues aimed at discrediting him and his investigators.

He was shocked that he has been placed in the center of a major controversy two weeks before his actual retirement day. “Isa lang ang msasabi ko, usually ang away (before a PNP chief’s retirement) is yung mga contenders. Pero dito, self-preservation ng sindikato. Gusto nilang lagyan ng malice ang investigation. They’re looking for a new Chief,PNP that would be business as usual,” Gen. Azurin said.

The top contenders to replace Gen. Azurin automatically are the members of his Command Group: PNP Deputy Chief for Administration, Lieutenant Gen. Rhodel O. Sermonia; PNP Deputy Chief for Operations, Major Gen. Jonnel C. Estomo; and PNP The Chief of Directorial Staff, Lt. Gen. Michael John F. Dubria.

Also considered as a ‘dark horse’ is PNP Director for Intelligence, Major Gen. Benjamin C. Acorda Jr., highly-reliable Journal Group sources said.

Gen. Azurin said he is very cautious when it comes to appearing in press conferences concerning major anti-narcotics operations since he first want the PNP intelligence community to validate the report of the operating unit.

He said that in the case of the Baguio City sting which led in the seizure of some P4 billion worth of shabu and the arrest of a Chinese national late last month, one of the top candidates for his post, Maj. Gen. Estomo was present during the press conference .

“Nandun si Jonnel Estomo, papano kung sine-set-up siya,”” he asked. “I am forewarning mga candidates sa Chief,PNP, wag tayo papicture ng papicture, baka kinakahon tayo ng mga yan,” he said.

Gen. Azurin said that what is clear on his mind is that he will recommend to the President a more stricter Chief,PNP.

“Ang ire-recommend ko kay President ay yung mas mahigpit pa sa akin kasi naglelevel-up na tayo. Ako yata ang Chief,PNP na walang asim, walang arrive kaya ang kelangan natin na next Chief,PNP ay mas mahigpit. Let us not compromise the President, he is the only person we got para iangat ang ating ekonomya,” he said.

“Sa totoo lang, I’m worried for the President kung sino ang papalit sa akin. Bakit gusto nating sirain agad ang mga pulis. Bakit pilit akong kinokonek ke Mayo,” he said.

He likewise said that the public, media included must look at the authenticity of any video regarding the October 2022 operation being shown. “We look at the authenticity of the video at baka me siningit kung me iba pa ngag heneral na sinasabing nandudoon,” he added

Gen. Azurin described his working relationship with Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr. as ‘very professional.’ “We don’t let kung anuman ang differences namin affect our work. Hindi ko nga alam kung ano ang ilalabas but definitely, SILG has the passion para sugpuin ang droga. Pero everything should be based on trust. Dapat kilala din niya ako,” he said.

“Ang alam ko lang, pine-preempt ang resulta ng SITG 990 investigation. Definitely, we’re not covering Mayo. Who is Mayo to me? Siya nga ang salot, isa sa anay na sumisira sa PNP, pagtatakpan ba natin siya? No way, we’re talking here of drugs, we’re talking here of a transfo rmed country, a transformed PNP, tapos sisirain natin because of Mayo. Minsan naman, let’s use our common sense. Si Mayo, napakalaki ng nadispalko niya: P6.7 billion na droga,” he said.

He also called on the media not to allow themselves to be ‘used, misused or abused’ by drug syndicates by accepting drug money in exchange for favorable reports.

Journal Group sources said that the appointment of the next PNP chief will be crucial since he will not only be leading the organization’s war on drugs, criminality, terror and corruption but will be appointed on a time that the entire country is preparing for the scheduled Sangguniang Kabataan and Barangay elections. 2022 national and local elections.

The law says that the President, as the Commander-in-Chief shall appoint the PNP chief from among a list prepared by the Napolcom of ‘the most senior and qualified officers in the service” given that the prospect appointee has not yet retired or within six months from their compulsory retirement age.

The law also says that the “lowest rank of a qualified appointee shall be the rank of Police Brigadier General. As PNP chief and an Ex Officio member of the Napolcom, the Chief,PNP is given the power to command and direct the police force.

Thus, officials say that President Marcos really has to make a brilliant decision when it comes to choosing the next PNP chief, who must have a good service reputation, sterling service record, untarnished integrity and the most important of them all, loyalty to the Constitution and the duly-constituted authorities.