In the Philippines nobody has workable solutions to the problems plaguing the nation. There are band-aid solutions and magical solutions (astronaut food pills for the poor??) but no one wants to stick to the solutions that are provided for within the confines of the law. Remember when the PNP Chief thought cleaning up their stations would instill discipline and weed out corruption? How about Duterte's pay raise? That was also supposed to put an end to corruption within the PNP. The PNP even resorted to using a Scientology course to stamp out corruption.
Now comes another brain-dead idea on how to weed out corruption in the PNP: mass resignations.
That's right. The idea of asking the PNP's entire top brass to offer courtesy resignations was not a whim of DILG Secretary Abalos but was the plan of Marcos Jr. all along.
Marcos was first asked if he had greenlighted the appeal of Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. for all police colonels and generals to tender their courtesy resignation in a bid to purge the Philippine National Police (PNP) of any link to the illegal drug syndicates.
“We have been planning this for a while. Let me be very clear. Remember, during the campaign, when I was being asked about what I will do for the drug war or the drug problem. This is it. We approach it in an entirely different way,” he told reporters.
Marcos said this was part of their efforts to cleanse the police ranks and ensure that the officers who remain in service are not involved with criminal drug syndicates.
"We know that the drugs will not be a problem if syndicates are not allied with some people in the police force. That’s why we must thoroughly look into who is good and involved. Who are really involved? And who will no longer be allowed to return to the service because of their association with drug lords?" he added.
Marcos reiterated that a committee will be formed to review the records of the police officers, and those cleared will be “slowly reinstated.”
“And maybe, we’ll have to decide: What do we do with those implicated to be involved in the drug trade? So we’ll see first. Maybe we’ll file cases against those with severe cases. We’re not yet there,” he added.
Marcos underscored the need to mount sufficient evidence against drug-involved PNP officers before filing a case before the court.
"Speculations and gossip about who is involved here and who is involved there, we’ve gone through that. It didn’t work, so we need to make sure that if we’re going to be filing cases, we’ll win them and really put those proven to be involved in the drug trade behind bars."
While an investigation is underway into whether police personnel have ties with illegal drug syndicates, Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. and PNP director General Abalos have said that all PNP colonels and generals are expected to perform their duties and responsibilities as usual.
Duterte's way of dealing with the drug problem was killing everyone and Marcos Jr's way is to ask the top PNP brass to resign so they can be investigated for ties to the drug trade. But what is stopping anyone from investigating these men sans a resignation? And its not even a real resignation as everyone is still expected to continue doing their duties. This is nothing less than a total farce.
What about all the officers in the lower ranks who are involved in the drug trade? Why not have the entire force tender courtesy resignations? Or better yet why not investigate every single PNP officer? The amazing thing is that everyone is eating up and praising this scheme as if it will actually put an end to corruption. The Commission on Human Rights says this is just the first step in the pursuit of justice.
“While we acknowledge Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.’s expeditious approach, it must be stressed that accountability must be carried out to its fullest extent,” CHR said.
“A resignation or removal from office may only be the first step in the pursuit of justice, and not an omission of liability. In this case, if allegations are proven to be true, criminal and administrative charges should be filed against erring police officers of the [PNP],” it added.
Last Wednesday, Abalos made a surprise announcement, saying that a five-person committee would be tasked to review the profiles of police colonels and generals. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief said that they arrived at the decision because they fear high-ranking officials may be involved in the drug trade already.
Then on Thursday, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. announced that he and his command group have submitted their courtesy resignations, urging other officials to do the same.
CHR noted that they acknowledge the changes that the current administration is trying to implement regarding the drug war — which is a shift from being merely a police matter to demand reduction and rehabilitation.
Despite this, CHR said that they would still like to emphasize that due process must always prevail.
How does asking the entire top brass of the PNP, none of who have been accused of drug trafficking, fall under due process? It doesn't.
Oddly enough these mass resignations are being touted as a way for the PNP to restore trust with the public.
Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. on Thursday said the call of Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. for senior officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be good for confidence-building between the organization and the public.
In a statement, Revilla said this will show that everyone is accountable and no one is untouchable in the government.
"Even the Chief PNP and chaplains are not spared. This shows that everyone is united in restoring public trust in the police especially the highest-ranking officers," he said.
He said there is nothing wrong with Abalos' call, saying the courtesy resignations will not be an indictment against the PNP, but a measure that shows the police organization serves at the pleasure and the best interest of the public.
"The PNP holds its personnel to the highest standards especially those who are in the lower ranks that we see everyday. It's good to show that the organization also holds those in the highest ranks to at least the same standards," Revilla said.
What is the standard that the top brass is being held to exactly? None of them have been accused of a crime yet they have all been asked to resign in order to be investigated for perhaps having committed a crime! Of course they will still have to remain on the job which is not much of a resignation. Furthermore those who do not offer their resignation will be considered questionable!
"I heed the call of the Honorable Secretary of the Interior and Local Government and the concurrent chairman of NAPOLCOM (National Police Commission). Thus, I am submitting my resignation from the police service voluntarily," Azurin wrote in a letter addressed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Azurin also wrote that he would allow himself to be evaluated and assessed by a committee created by Marcos to determine if he was in any way involved in the narcotics trade, or if he had been tolerating police officers who were.
He also noted that his resignation would also be considered an application for his retirement, adding that he supports Abalos' call to "rid the PNP of misfits and scalawags."
Abalos earlier said those who offer courtesy resignations could continue working while their records were assessed by a 5-member committee. Those found guilty would have their resignations accepted, he said.
"If you're not involved, there's nothing to worry about," he said in a press conference, noting that anyone who did not tender their resignation would be "questionable."
"This is the only way to cleanse the ranks in a fast manner," Abalos said. "It's difficult to fight a war when it's your ally that will shoot you in the back."
Abalos said that Azurin himself had recommended the move.
It is not the first time such drastic measures have been used to clean up the Philippine police force.
Former president Fidel Ramos cracked down on police in the early 1990s, ordering all officers over 56 years of age or with more than 30 years of service to resign. The chief of the national police and 9 other senior officers resigned as a result.
So far there has been no explanation as to exactly how asking every member of the top PNP brass to resign will cleanse the ranks. And what about those in the lower ranks? Corruption happens down there too. It is not limited to the top brass.
Brigadier Gen. Pablo Labra II, the director of the Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13), has welcomed the promotions of 1,379 police personnel in the region and told them to refrain from "any forms of corruption and malice."
Labra led Tuesday the mass oath-taking, and the donning and pinning of ranks to the newly-promoted Police Commissioned Officers (PCOs) and Police Non-Commissioned Officers (PNCOs) in the region.
“Continue doing what is right and never get discouraged by any circumstances that may try to challenge a person’s faith in himself, his job, and his organization,” Labra told the newly-promoted officers.
He also encouraged them to continue to "live for the purpose of serving and protecting the country and people."
At least 93 PCOs in PRO-13 got their promotions this year that included three majors, 80 captains, and 10 lieutenants.
Likewise, 1,286 PNCOs were also promoted comprising 66 executive master sergeants, 105 chief master sergeants, 126 staff master sergeants, 119 master sergeants, 229 staff sergeants, and 641 corporals.
“To everyone, do not engage in any illegal activities. Refrain from doing any forms of corruption and malice that may tarnish the uniform we wear,” Labra said.
Why not have every single PNP officer tender a courtesy resignation?
To show just how stupid this whole charade is and how the call for the top brass to resign is nothing but a deceitful piece of theater just take a peek at the following.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said police officials who have submitted their courtesy resignations will undergo a lifestyle check.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Azurin said the measure is part of the investigation to be conducted by the five-man committee tasked to assess their courtesy resignations and will issue a recommendation to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on whether to reject or accept the same.
“As of now we need to ask the members of the committee about the other procedures to be undertaken, but definitely that would be part of the investigation or inquiry that will be conducted by the committee to assess and evaluate all third-level officers,” Azurin said.
The PNP personnel undergo yearly lifestyle checks in accordance with Republic Act 3019 or the "Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices",and Republic Act 6713 or the "Act Establishing a Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees."
Meanwhile, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said around 70 percent of all police generals and colonels have already submitted their courtesy resignations.
Fajardo said they are still checking if the 10 police officials purportedly involved in the illegal drug trade have already submitted their courtesy resignations.
“Right now we don't have information on what the Chief PNP mentioned earlier that less than 10 are being targeted by the investigation if they are included in more or less 70 percent and we will find out and give an update when we get the data,” Fajardo said.
The PNP Chief has said there are LESS THAN 10 top officials who are allegedly involved in the drug trade and yet the entirety of the top brass, which is about 950 men, are being forced to hand in their resignations. Why not just go after the less than 10 officials who are known to be involved in the drug trade?? And what is the good of doing lifestyle checks when these are done EVERY SINGLE YEAR!? Did the results from last year turn up anything damning?
Thankfully at least a few cops are questioning this order.
Some top Philippine National Police officials are having second thoughts about heeding Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos’ appeal to voluntarily step down to pave the way for the government’s campaign to rid the organization of policemen with links to illegal drugs.
In a phone interview with reporters on Wednesday, PNP spokesperson Police Col. Jean Fajardo said that out of the 956 police generals and colonels who were expected to submit courtesy resignations, around 70 percent or more than 600 had already complied as of Tuesday evening. According to Fajardo, they were hoping that the rest would follow suit by the end of the month.
“We cannot deny that there are some senior officers who have reservations [about] submitting their courtesy resignation,” she said, adding that some had questioned the need for it when those with possible links to the illegal drug trade had already been identified.
“We cannot deny that if one or two PNP personnel are identified and [discovered to be] involved in illegal drugs, [they are not the only ones] being implicated in illegal drug activities, but it is the whole organization,” Fajardo said.
“Once and for all, we need to step up and take the lead of making the supreme sacrifice of submitting our courtesy resignation,” she stressed.
"The supreme sacrifice of submitting our courtesy resignation?" How is that "the supreme sacrifice?"
The fact of the matter is that this new way of weeding out corruption is already a failure as the DILG has admitted that cops found to be involved in drugs but for whom there is not a strong enough case will be allowed to retire in peace.
Senior police officers who are found to be involved in illegal drugs but the evidence against them isn’t “that strong” will be allowed to retire in peace and will not be subjected to public shaming, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said on Friday.
Abalos said there was no need to publicize the names of the police officials whose courtesy resignations would be accepted by President Marcos due to their involvement in the illegal drug trade.
“This is a radical move. Like what I have said, extraordinary times call for radical and bold actions. This is out of the box. In the same token let’s say if you receive a resignation, let them retire silently,” he said during a press conference at Camp Crame.
“Now, if we have enough evidence that would build up criminal cases, pursue them in court as mandated by law. If not, if you do not have that strong evidence but it was seen that they had involvement, let them retire peacefully,” he added.
Abalos clarified that even with the quiet exit of these police officials, “the monitoring and investigation on them must continue” to gather evidence that would lead to their eventual prosecution “because what is important is to eradicate the problem of drugs once and for all.”
Letting known corrupt cops off the hook to retire quietly while still tracking them to build a case is not a radical and bold action. That is a flagrant neglect of the rule of law which contradicts the alleged purpose of requesting the top brass to resign. And who knows but the entire scheme is really a targeted purge that does not require the filing of formal charges and has nothing to do with weeding out corruption.
This pointless exercise is akin to killing a fly with a hammer. It makes no sense, it is redundant, and the intended goal of weeding out corruption will not be met in this manner. If the law were followed and executed properly on a regular basis there would be a lot less problems. If corrupt politicians and bureaucrats knew they would be held accountable for any crimes they commit perhaps they would think twice about stepping out of line. As it is the PNP admits they know exactly who might be involved in the drug trade but instead of going after them by quietly building a case through investigative police work the government chooses this route. It is a farce on a grand scale and the fact that everyone is going along with it is quite maddening.
