5-man panel recommends filing of charges vs 4 PNP officials over drug links
Four senior police officials, whose courtesy resignations were recommended to be accepted by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., were formerly assigned to the top anti-narcotics unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Aside from the acceptance of the courtesy resignation, the five-man Advisory Group headed by former PNP chief Rofolfo Azurin, Jr. also recommended the filing of charges against the four police officials composed of two one-star generals and two full colonels.
Azurin confirmed to the Manila Bulletin that the four senior police officials are former officers of the PNP-Drug Enforcement Group-- the police's unit tasked to run after drug syndicates and stop illegal drugs proliferation in the country
He added that at least one of them was subjected to investigation over the return of Police Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo, Jr. to the PDEG.
Mayo was among the hundreds of cops sent to Mindanao during the time of former PNP chief and now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa as punishment for involvement in illegal drugs. They were referred to before as ninja cops, or those who recycle confiscated illegal drugs.
Dela Rosa himself was surprised as to why the former was able to return to the PDEG and was even tasked as intelligence officer for Metro Manila.
Mayo, whose dismissal from the service was approved by Azurin, was tagged in the 990 kilos of shabu seized in a raid in Manila in October last year.
The involvement of Mayo in the one of the biggest drug haul of the PNP led to the request of Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos for all the nearly 1,000 PNP third level officers to submit a courtesy resignation as part of internal cleansing.
Based on the latest data, a total of 917 PNP senior officers were already cleared by the five-man Advisory Group while 36 others were recommended to be further evaluated by the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
Aside from Azurin, retired PNP general and now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and former Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro composed the five-man Advisory Group.
Both Azurin and Magalong, in separate interviews, said the conduct of the evaluation of all PNP senior officers would bring integrity and credibility for the PNP in the renewed campaign against illegal drugs.
The recommendations of the five-man Advisory Group are still subject for review of Napolcom before they are forwarded to Marcos for approval.
Prior to his retirement late last month, Azurin said the genuine internal cleansing in the PNP is his major contribution to the police organization and to the country.