Facade of the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame. - pnp.gov.ph website
MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): Of the 953 police generals and colonels in the country, 904 have already submitted their courtesy resignations as the government tries to rid the ranks of the Philippine National Police (PNP) of ties with the illegal drug trade.
According to Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr, the total number to date is 95 per cent of the PNP’s top brass.
“As of now, I was informed by the PNP chief that the colonels and generals who have submitted their courtesy resignations are now at 95 per cent,” he said.
PNP spokesperson Col Jean Fajardo said in a chance interview that the 904 consist of 774 colonels and 130 generals.
Previous records of the PNP showed that the institution has a total of 956 full police generals and colonels. But Fajardo clarified that this number decreased after three retired over the past few days.
She added that the PNP expects 49 high-ranking officers to submit their courtesy resignations until Jan 31.
Last week, Abalos publicly appealed for top PNP officials to tender their courtesy resignations as the government pursues a “radical approach” in weeding out so-called ninja cops.
