PRESIDENT Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. will lead in Camp Crame today, Monday, the Change of Command Ceremony and Retirement Honors for his 1st Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and the 28th to head the police force since its creation in 1991, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr.

An Ilocano police general, Azurin who took over as the country’s top cop on August 3 last year, said he will be retiring with his head up high and knowing fully well that he has accomplished the job given him by the Commander-in-Chief.

Gen. Azurin declared that his major accomplishment during his eight-month tour of duty is that he was able to unmask the ‘termites’ in the 227,000-strong organization which are destroying the force.

He praised former PNP Drug Enforcement Group director, Brigadier Gen. Narciso D. Domingo for what he has done during his stint at the PNP-DEG since August 8 last year.

“I’m really proud of what Brig. Gen. Domingo did. He tried his very best, siya ang nag-umpisa, siya ang bagong mukha ng ating laban sa droga,” Gen. Azurin said.

The member of Philippine Military Academy ‘Makatao’ Class of 1989 also called on his would-be successor to continue his firm drive versus drugs, criminality and corruption.

Gen. Azurin said he wants the PNP’s all-out war versus rogues in uniform be continued.

“Naumpisahan na natin ang laban sa droga. Let us not allow na yung kokonting miyembro ng kapulisan ay magpatuloy na sumira sa ating organization. Yung ating organisasyon muna bago ang pansariling kapakanan,” he stated.

Gen. Azurin also said he is calling for the release of the names of ranking PNP officials who have been cleared of involvement in illegal drugs as soon as President Marcos approves the final recommendation from the National Police Commission chaired by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr.

He asserted that the names of those cleared upon the recommendation of the 5-Man Committee and the Napolcom must be made public after Sec. Abalos reported that the courtesy resignations of 917 3rd-Level PNP Officers were denied.

“The SILG initially said 917 were recommended to have their courtesy resignations denied. I think it is but fitting that they reveal those names,” he said.

Gen. Azurin said he has no regrets in being President Marcos’ 1st PNP chief as he stressed that the PNP under him accomplished its targets in the government’s anti-criminality drive.

“We were given objectives and I think generally I can say that I was able to comply with those targets and objectives,” he said.

Gen. Azurin advised his successor to be strong and brave in facing challenges in the police force.

“If we are willing to have a genuine, real transformation in the PNP, we should not be afraid of who gets caught, who gets hurt,” he said.

Gen. Azurin last week said he advised President Marcos to carefully choose the next leader of the police force and not base his decision on the recommendations of people who are backing their own candidates.

He said he has asked the Chief Executive to interview the candidates as the PNP unmasked several police officers and men who were involved in the illegal drug trade.

Gen. Azurin became known for his “Malasakit + Kaayusan + Kapayapaan = Kaunlaran” (Compassion + Order + Peace = Progress) mandate in overseeing the national police, the same strategy he used when he was still Police Regional Office 1 director in Ilocos-Pangasinan region.

As PNP chief, he ordered a thorough review of the PNP’s quad concept in addressing illegal drugs in the country. The quad concept refers to operation, intelligence, investigation, and police community relations.

He noted shortly after assuming his post in August 2022 that some of the compliances of lower police units are no longer applicable in some areas. He even provided an example of where the police continued to conduct drug operations in a place, despite the area being already declared as ‘drug-free.’

He also led the police force in building a more harmonious relationship with all sectors of the society specifically the church and other faith-based organizations to convince them that the PNP is faithful to its mandate.

Gen. Azurin also led his men in launching the Kasimbayanan (Kapulisan, Simbahan, at Pamayanan) program of the police force in which they harnessed the help and support of all religious leaders across the country in reforming the force.

The program includes life coaching and counseling of police officers and personnel.

He also made sure that the PNP leadership’s crackdown versus rogues in uniform would be taken seriously; ordered a review of the training of the police to improve the operational and investigation skills of their personnel and keep them focus in fighting and preventing crimes thru operations, intelligence, investigation, and organization and mobilization of the community.

Born in Paniqui, Tarlac on Apri l24, 1967, Azurin was raised by his parents in La Trinidad, Benguet. Azurin is married to the former Mary Grace Lino and has three children: Martin, Ninna, and Aaron.

He worked in a number of police units and offices including the following: 1st Special Action Company in Parang, Maguindanao; 231st Philippine Constabulary (PC) Company in Quezon province; Police Aviation Security Command (currently the Aviation Security Group);

Criminal Investigation Service Command (currently the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG); Office of Internal Security of the Department of Interior and Local Government; PNP Health Service; Police Community Relations Group (currently the Police Community Affairs and Development Group); and the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management.

As a mid-level officer, the PNP chief served as the director of the Benguet Police Provincial Office and once headed the Special Operations Division/Task Force Limbas of the PNP Highway Patrol Group. He also was once the deputy operations officer of the now defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force headed by former PNP chief, now former Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ M. Lacson.

Gen. Azurin also previously served as the director of the PNP Maritime Group before becoming the PRO1 director. He also used to head the PNP Directorate for Comptrollership and the Directorate for Information and Communication Technology Management.

Before his appointment as PNP chief, he headed the Area Police Command-Northern Luzon and the APC-Southern Luzon. He got his 3rd-star in March 2022 before getting his 4th-star in August last year.