MAJORITY of the PNP Officers Corps and the rest of their sergeant majors have joined calls for the public release of the names of 3rd-Level Officers who have been cleared of involvement in illegal drugs as soon as President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. approves the final recommendation from the National Police Commission (Napolcom).

Last week, then PNP chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. called for the release of the names of the ranking police officials who have been cleared of involvement in illegal drugs as soon as President Marcos approves the final recommendation from the Napolcom 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 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.

The 7,391-strong PNP Academy Alumni Association, Inc. (PNPAAAI) also called on the DILG and PNP leaderships to follow due process and fairness in its search for the truth on the mystery behind the more than ton of shabu worth over P8 billion discovered inside a lending firm-turned drug warehouse in Sta. Cruz, Manila in October last year.

The major drug haul scored by the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) formerly headed by Brigadier Gen. Narciso D. Domingo prompted Azurin and Abalos to call on all 3rd-Level PNP Officers to tender their courtesy resignations before President Marcos to pave the way for a thorough cleansing of police officials with drug links.

The PNPAAAI announced its full support to Abalos and the top PNP leadership for carrying out their ongoing internal cleansing campaign at the 227,000-strong police force which lately has been hit by demoralization amid ‘cover-up charges and counter-charges’ aired over the controversy-laden seizure of P6.7 billion worth of shabu and the pilferage of 42 more kilos of the drug.

However, the group chaired by retired Police Major General Gilbert DC Cruz, now the Executive Director of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, said that while the police agency had been beset with controversies which have unfairly dragged the names of and reputation of its members before the bar of public opinion, the public and the decision-makers should always consider the primacy of the Constitutional precept of due process.

“The higher authorities should also always take into consideration of ensuring that justice is served fairly, swiftly and accurately because the truth will always set us all free,” the nine-member PNPAAAI Board of Trustees said in a manifesto.

“This is protect the interest of the innocent officials, including their families from public embarrassment and humiliation. As an instrument of law enforcement, the PNP knows there is no substitute for due process,” the group of ‘Lakans’ said in the wake of the major drug controversy which has dragged the names of some PNPA and Philippine Military Academy graduates.

The 5-man Advisory Group created by Marcos last January completed its job on Thursday and is set to submit its recommendation to Abalos for final review and presentation to the Chief Executive.

The Advisory Group looked into the records and documents of the senior officers of the PNP and screened a total of 953 senior officials who submitted individual letters of resignation in support of the massive internal cleansing program initiated by the DILG-PNP leadership.

The advisory body convened for the 8th time on Thursday, April 20th since it was constituted to determine the fitness of all the senior officials to continue serving the PNP, according to their spokesperson, PNP Public Information Office chief, Colonel Redrico A. Maranan.

The final report of the 5-member body will be formally endorsed to Abalos for final review and subsequent presentation to President Marcos Jr. for approval.

Now retired Azurin expressed gratitude to his co-members of the 5-man Advisory Group and support staff for the successful culmination of the evaluation and screening process of all 953 3rd-Level PCOs.

“This report is the result of painstaking hard work that speaks well of the objectivity, fairness and integrity of the entire process. The whole exercise is founded on common aspiration of an effective and trustworthy police organization that deserves the trust and respect of the people,” the former PNP chief said.

Apart from Azurin, other members of the body include retired General-turned Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong; retired Gen. Isagani R. Nerez, an Undersecretary at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Military and Police Affairs; former Defense chief Gilbert C. Teodoro; and retired Court of Appeals Associate Justice Melchor Q. Sadang.

All five are known for their unquestionable integrity, credibility and untainted reputation, said Sec. Abalos.

Azurin is a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ‘Makatao’ Class of 1989. Magalong belongs to PMA ‘Sandigan’ Class of 1982 while Nerez is a member of PMA ‘Maharlika’ Class of 1984.

Marcos maintained that actions could not be taken against erring officers simply based on unverified information.

“Kaya naman ating ginawa ‘yung review, mga official sa police at dahan-dahan… malapit nang matapos. I think in another two weeks or so, we’ll be able to finish that. We’ll be able to review all of that,” the Chief Executive said during the 1st Joint National Peace and Order Council and Regional Peace and Order Council Meeting in Malacañang.

“It’s a very complicated system, and it’s a very complicated situation. Hindi naman tayo puwedeng umaksyon on the basis ng tsismis. We cannot move on that basis. We have to be very careful because we have to [be] fair. It has to be just,” the President explained.

Marcos also emphasized that the government has nothing against the police force because “it is the administration’s partner in peace and order.” Thus, he asked the members of the police organization to work with his administration.

“The police have to be with us. They have to be on our side. We cannot do it without them. Ganun lang kasimple ‘yun. We have to have a good functioning police force,” the Commander-in-Chief said.

“But there should be also a mechanism where those who have succumbed to temptation must be brought to account para naman mabuwag natin ang mga ganyang klaseng sistema,” he added.

Marcos likewise called on council members to address the country’s two main peace and order problems: the rise in political violence and violence stemming from competition among drug syndicates.

He said the Philippines should tackle the peace and order problem to avoid being “mired in violence and disarray” similar to what is happening in other countries.

“We have seen it happening in other countries around the world. Huwag nating pabayaang mapunta ang Pilipinas doon sa ganung klaseng sitwasyon. Bakit? That’s when governments fail, that when nations fail, and wala na tayong maaasahan,” Marcos stressed.