The involvement of some police officers and rank-and-file have often been exposed in several administrations, but no one dared the police to submit courtesy resignations than DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos. Was he acting brave? Yes, but would his dare be accepted, maybe not.
For one, if everyone submits a courtesy resignation—even if just on paper—this might embolden criminals into doing their crimes.
Newspapers have reported that the PNP chief and the NCRPO chief have complied.
The courtesy resignations of PNP colonels and generals will benefit those who are falsely being linked to the drug trade, said PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. the first to tender his courtesy resignation.
Another is PNP-NCRPO head Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo who succeeded in enjoining the other generals and colonels of his office to follow his example.
It is understandable why the two top bosses of the PNP complied—firstly to lead by example and secondly to show people they can be trusted to respect the existing administrative structure and rules and subsequently to regain people’s trust in the police system.
But years of abuse by the police—especially during the previous administration where their marching order for the drug war is to kill—made distrust the system and it would be hard to earn their trust.
Abalos justified his challenge as “the quickest way for the country to address the drug menace that has infiltrated the police force.”
It appears that the problem is big within the police organization, as there are generals and colonels involved in the illegal drug trade. According to the recommendation from PNP and other police officers, I am calling on all full colonel up to all generals for them to submit a courtesy resignation, Abalos explained.
“Or is a very radical approach to this problem, but I do believe we must cleanse our ranks,” he said as he announced that a committee of five would be formed to review the profile of the officials who would submit the resignation. While their courtesy resignation is still under review by the committee, the officials would still function in respect to their current assignments.
Once the committee approves the resignation, only then would the officials concerned be removed from the service.
“Maybe with this, we can start fresh in trusting the PNP. My trust with the PNP is there, I’ve been working with the PNP, I’ve seen men in uniform, women in uniform risking their lives. It will be unfair to them (if PNP is dragged down by ninja cops),” he added.
But his qualifier that the courtesy resignation is not a mandatory order, but that he is “appealing” to the colonels and generals to make the move, had just made it laughable to other officers.