Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) chief Col. Lorenzo Batuan expressed support to the call of Department of the Interior and Local Government secretary Benhur Abalos’ for top ranking officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to file their respective courtesy resignations.
This comes as Abalos suggested a radical move asking all top PNP officials from colonel to generals to file their respective courtesy resignations in order to provide latitude to a committee to get rid of police officials involved in drugs.
Batuan, who holds a rank of colonel, is among the officers who are supposed to file their courtesy resignation.
Abalos made the call in order to cleanse the police organization of scalawags involved in the drug trade.
A five-man committee will be taking a look at the courtesy resignations of the officers and those who are not involved in the drug trade will have their resignation rejected.
“It’s hard to fight in a war where your ally will be the one who will shoot you in the back,” Abalos said.
Batuan said that he is going to abide by the orders of his superiors.
According to PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., the filing of courtesy resignation is “a test of character” as officers should not worry if they are not involved with the trade of illegal drugs.
Abalos said that the idea of asking officials to file their courtesy resignation is a radical approach to solve the problem as there have been reports of the resurfacing of so-called “ninja cops” or police officers involved in the drug trade.
The DILG head said that asking the officials to resign is a shorter alternative to the lengthy process of filing cases in court.
Aside from Batuan, the top cop of Central Visayas who is Brig. Gen. Jerry Bearis signified his full support to the call of Abalos.
“This is a nice approach for us to cleanse our ranks,” Bearis said to reporters in the region.
Bearis also said that he sees no problem with the approach of the DILG saying the move will enhance the credibility of the PNP.