SENATOR Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, once again, called on the men in uniform of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to avoid any involvement in illegal drugs trade while police national chief PGen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. lauded the courtesy resignation of region 7 third level police officers.
The appeal for police personnel to shun in illegal drugs came as some police officers were reportedly involved in the said illegal activity.
Police provincial director Col. Lorenzo Batuan, who welcomed Azurin, earlier, said that there are no “ninja cops” here, who were reportedly in cahoots with the illegal activity.
Sen. Dela Rosa warned that those police officers found to be guilty of any involvement in illegal drugs trade will definitely face sanctions.
Azurin said that dismissal from service will be slapped to any police scalawags found to be engaging in the prohibited trade.
The senator, whose roots are traced to Antequera town, was in the province to attend to a social activity and graced the 92nd national congress of the League of Vice-Governors of the Philippines (LVGP) hosted by Bohol during the welcome dinner held at Bohol Cultural Center on March 2, 2023. Vice-Governor Dionisio Victor A. Balite welcomed the senator as a special guest and other vice-governors from other provinces.
The senator said that he paid a courtesy visit to the mayors of Duero, Loay, Lila and Loboc and thanked them, apparently for putting him in the Senate. He said that he distributed the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) at P3,000 each beneficiary in Duero town. And there are still AICS assistance sourced out from his fund for other Bohol towns.
In his speech before the men and women in uniform at the Camp Dagohoy, Azurin hailed his PNP third level officers in region 7 for 100% submission of their respective courtesy resignation.
“It means that this is a very strong manifestation and indication that they are serious in internal cleansing program of the PNP,” Azurin said in his short speech.
Submission of the courtesy resignation by the third level officers means maintaining the moral ascendancy in the battle against illegal drugs trade. They set an example so those lower rank officers follow, he said.
The police fight against illegal drugs is a “continuing” effort apparently to establish a peaceful community, he said. The police should also collaborate with the community and other sectors in this fight.
Police effort in establishing and maintaining a peaceful community based on its security program is a measure that may translate to economic progress as investors are enticed to put up business in the province, Azurin said. (rvo)
