Abalos: 76 cops axed in 2023

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 76 police officers were relieved from the service in 2023 for various violations, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said yesterday.

He said the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) conducted 681 investigations, of which 437 were summary dismissal cases, last year.

The NAPOLCOM demoted 89 police officers, suspended 93 others and reprimanded 11 more.

Abalos – who heads the Department of the Interior and Local Government, which has supervision over the Philippine National Police – said the government filed charges against 177 police officers for drug-related offenses in Metro Manila alone.

This includes the 59 police officers who were subjected to summary dismissal proceedings in connection with the P6.7-billion drug bust involving former master sergeant Rodolfo Mayo.

Last year, the Marcos administration also called for the courtesy resignation of over 960 police colonels and generals to give way to the investigation of the illegal drug trade.

President Marcos accepted 18 resignations, two of whom held the rank of brigadier general while another two were colonels charged in the Mayo case.