METRO Manila police chief Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo said he would heed the call of Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos to submit his courtesy resignation as part of moves to combat the illegal drug trade in the country.
Abalos on Wednesday appealed to colonels and generals of the Philippine National Police to tender their courtesy resignations after saying that top cops were involved in the illegal drug trade.
Abalos said those who are innocent should have nothing to fear. He also said not even Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin is spared from his call. Azurin is expected to submit his courtesy resignation to the President.
Drug link denial
Estomo, the chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, said he is not involved in the illegal drug trade and fully supports Abalos’ call.
“As the Regional Director of NCRPO, I hereby lead the Team NCRPO generals and police colonels to render our courtesy resignation to His Excellency, President ‘Bong-Bong’ Marcos Jr through the Chief Philippine National Police, Gen. Rodolfo S Azurin Jr. and Napolcom Chairman/ DILG Secretary Atty. Benjamin ‘Benhur Abalos Jr. for the best interest of the country,” Estomo said in a statement.
He said he was just waiting to sign the formal document for the courtesy resignation.
He also said other officials of the NCRPO are expected to do the same. The NCRPO has 67 colonels and generals.
Fresh start
According to him, Abalos’ call for courtesy resignations would help officials make a fresh start and win the war against illegal drugs.
“We believe that the said radical approach to full-fledged colonels and generals will greatly affect the organization in cleansing the ranks and will further improve the operations on the grounds,” he said.
A five-member committee would evaluate the courtesy resignations of the police officials and decide who would stay or go.
Until the resignation is accepted, the officials would remain in their post.
In calling for the courtesy resignations, Abalos said officials had studied the drug problem for several months and found that there were generals and colonels involved in the drug trade.
He said the courtesy resignations would allow officials to cleanse the ranks.
Banner photo: NCRPO
