The Philippine National Police said Friday the five-man advisory group tasked to look into the records and documents of 953 active police officers linked to illegal drug operations has completed evaluating them.
The group met for the last time—to evaluate the so-called “ninja cops”—on April 20, said PNP acting public information chief, Col. Redrico Maranan.
He added these officers submitted individual letters of resignation in support of the massive internal cleansing program initiated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government leadership.
“The advisory body convened yesterday, April 20, for the eighth timesince it was constituted to determine the fitness of all the senior officials to continue serving the PNP,” he added.
Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. tasked the members of the national and regional peace and order councils to address cases of political violence as well as those stemming from the illegal drug trade.
The President said these were the two biggest concerns threatening peace and order in the country.
He also said that the PNP’s internal review aimed at determining cops with drug links was set to conclude in two weeks or so, as he vowed torelentlessly fight the proliferation of illicit narcotics in the country.
Maranan said the advisory group has wrapped up work and drafted itsreport containing findings and recommendations.
“The final report of the five-member body will be formally endorsed to Napolcom (National Police Commission) chairman and DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. for final review and subsequent presentation to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for approval,” he added.
Meanwhile, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. thanked his co-membersand support staff for the successful culmination of the evaluation andscreening process of all 953 third-level police commissioned officers.
“This report is the result of painstaking hard work that speaks wellof the objectivity, fairness and integrity of the entire process. The whole exercise is founded on the common aspiration of an effective and trustworthy police organization that deserves the trust and respect of the people,” he said.