PNP chief set to retire tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. is scheduled to retire tomorrow after nine months of a “roller-coaster ride” as the country’s top cop, still with no successor named.

“That’s the best way I would describe (my tenure), most of the time down but we recover somehow,” he told reporters in an interview in Baguio City yesterday.

Azurin graced the testimonial parade in his honor at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), the same institution that molded him into a police officer.

A member of the PMA Makatao Class of 1989, Azurin took over the leadership of the 228,000-strong police force on Aug. 1, 2022, which made him President Marcos’ first PNP chief.

As of yesterday, there is no word if Marcos has chosen a successor for Azurin, who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 tomorrow.

“I do not know what’s in the mind of our President but I’m sure he is really thinking,” he said.

The PNP has set the change of command ceremony and retirement honors for Azurin at the PNP Transformation Oval at Camp Crame at around 8 a.m. tomorrow, with Marcos as the guest of honor and speaker.

Azurin earlier urged Marcos to be careful in choosing his successor given the controversies the PNP is currently facing.

Azurin and his immediate superior, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, have been at odds after the latter accused several police officials of involvement in an alleged cover-up to protect dismissed anti-narcotics officer Rodolfo Mayo Jr., who was implicated in the seizure of P6.7 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu in Tondo, Manila in October last year.

After staying silent for a week, Azurin took a swipe at Abalos for naming the police officials, including two generals, in public without giving them due process.

Asked about the legacy that he will be leaving the PNP, Azurin said he took care of his police officers.

Another accomplishment he is proud of is unmasking several police officers allegedly involved in illegal drugs, specifically those who were caught stealing 42 kilos of shabu from the 990-kilo drug haul in Manila.

He urged whoever will be his successor to continue the campaign against illegal drugs, regardless of who would be affected.