IT’S Father’s Day today and although it is not actually an official public holiday, I would like to greet all my fellow fathers starting from PBBM, our different national and local leaders as well as security officials including DILG chief, Secretary Benhur Abalos and PNP chief, General Benjie Acorda. Happy Father’s Day to all.

I’m also sending the same greetings to all my friends including those in the PNP, the Armed Forces and other law enforcement agencies, both active and retired who, admit it or not are all heroes in the eyes of their wives and kids for many reasons.

Speaking of Father’s Day, I would like to inform everybody that there is a growing consensus among all fathers in the police organization to reveal the names of the 3rd-Level PNP Officers whose courtesy resignation has been approved by the President following a recommendation from the 5-Man Committee and the National Police Commission.

Shortly after Sec. Abalos and Napolcom Vice-Chairman Alberto Bernardo, in a press conference at the DILG office last Tuesday announced the names of 48 police officers and men including two generals who have been charged before the Office of the Ombudsman over their alleged involvement in a major shabu haul mess in Sta. Cruz, Manila last October, the consensus further grew.

The DILG-Napolcom leadership said that the 48 policemen plus two others whose names were withheld were accused of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, perjury, malversation of public property, and obstruction of justice in connection with the recovery of 990 kilograms of shabu worth P6.7 billion and the ensuing discovery of a massive drug pilferage committed by some officers.

Those named by the DILG-Napolcom specifically Lieutenant General Benjie Santos of PMA ‘Sambisig’ Class of 1991 and Brigadier Gen. Narciso Domingo of PNP Academy ‘Tagapagpatupad’ Class of 1992 really have to face the biggest battle of their career, hire the best lawyer they can afford and pray to High Heavens that the court will listen to their side.

I also pity those who profess innocence of the charges hurled against them especially the lowly officers and men who were just taking orders from some of the accused. This is no ordinary case as it will mean their dismissal from the service and even lengthy jail term once they are found guilty.

Many officials have told me that if the DILG-Napolcom have publicly identified the 48 police officers and men, there is no more reason to keep secret the names of 3rd-Level Officers whose resignation have been accepted by President Marcos following a thorough deliberation made by the 5-Man Committee and the Napolcom.

Last May, Sec. Abalos said the 5-Man Advisory Group made the following three recommendations: First is not to accept the courtesy resignation of 917 senior PNP officers; Second is the reinvestigation of 32 more officers; and last but not the least is the acceptance of the courtesy resignation and the filing of administrative/criminal charges against four officers.

Since those whose courtesy resignation were accepted remained unidentified to date, many star-rank officials and full-fledged colonels have told me they want the list be made public too just like what the DILG-Napolcom made as a result of the thorough investigation into the P6.7 billion shabu haul.

“Otherwise, all of us remain suspect. Ang mahirap kasi ay mag-explain sa mga kaibigan, sa mga kapitbahay, sa mga bagong kakilala na wala kaming kinalaman sa droga, na malinis ang aming pagkatao, na yung bahay namin, mga ibang ari-arian at maliit na negosyo ay nakuha namin sa malinis na paraan, na pinaghirapan naming ipundar lahat yun simula nung mga bata pa kami at nag-pamilya na,” one general who requested anonymity told me.

Another official said that as far as he is concerned, releasing the result of the deliberation on the resignation of 3rd-Level Officers and in particular identifying those with supposed drug links will separate the rotten from the good ones so to speak. Yes, they are not open to the idea of mentioning the names of the 917 since it would take quite some time just like what happened when the names of the 48 were made public.

“Until the final list of 3rd-Level Officers whose resignations have been accepted by the President, our Commander-in-Chief, is released in a manner similar to what happened to last Tuesday’s press conference, we all remain suspect and the mud-throwing versus the organization we dearly love will continue,” the official who also requested not to be identified said.

Right now, concerned PNP officials have been one in telling me that the DILG and the PNP leadership must address the said issue ‘fairly and squarely.’ Their recommendation is to release the result of the deliberations so that they could be finally protected from the mud, the many negative comments, the worst adjectives being thrown to them by their perennial critics and even some supporters.

Since the start of the PBBM administration, I would say that the DILG-PNP leadership really have been doing its best to make reforms in the 228,000-strong police organization, pouncing in particular against known rogues, the misfits and scalawags in uniform.

In fact, Sec. Abalos and former PNP chief, General Jun Azurin should be credited for ordering a no-nonsense investigation into the P6.7 billion drug haul in Manila which was marred by a massive pilferage which triggered investigations by both Senate and the House of Representatives. It was also Sec. Abalos who exposed the ‘cover-up’ issue.

The probe also prompted Sec. Abalos to appeal to all 3rd-Level PNP Officers to submit their courtesy resignation to President Marcos. He said that they have accepted the resignation of four senior officers including two generals and two colonels following the recommendation of the 5-Man Advisory Group. PBBM confirmed he had accepted the courtesy resignations of the two star-rank officials.

The DILG assured that the names of the officers will be released after the pre-charge investigation and as soon as administrative charges are filed against them. However, last Tuesday’s presscon sparked calls for Sec. Abalos to finally reveal the names of those deemed ‘resigned’ officials in order to clear the names of the rest.

I fully agree. It’s high time to show that the DILG-PNP is really sincere in disciplining its ranks. This could happen in the event Sec. Abalos, Gen. Acorda and the other innocent generals and colonels band together as the names of the 32 are made public.