PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said Monday, August 15, 2022, that they are “ironing” matters pertaining to the reorganization of key positions in the agency with the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
“We have to iron out ‘yung differences namin ng Napolcom and I respect that particular Napolcom memorandum circular,” he said in an interview with reporters.
Azurin was referring to the Napolcom Memorandum Circular 2019-001, specifically on the placement of PNP officers to third level positions, which require the review and confirmation by the commission en banc within 30 days.
In Resolution 2022-473, the Napolcom noted that the PNP is no longer submitting to the commission for review and confirmation the names of PNP officers being designated to the third level position, which is a “breach of existing policies.”
It was approved the day Azurin implemented a major revamp in the organization involving at least 80 police officials.
Azurin said that back in 2016, when he was with the Senior Officer Placement and Promotion Board (SOPPB), then Napolcom Vice Chairman Rogelio Casurao allowed them to implement a reorganization and gave the commission a copy of the orders later on.
“During the time of Secretary Mar Roxas, I had been PD (Provincial Director) of Benguet. Mag one year na ako hindi pa ako naco-confirm. So there is a problem on the implementation nung confirmation,” he said.
“I think and I was with the SOPPB and I requested na sir nababagalan po ‘yung confirmation. Can we do at least na implement na namin ‘yung orders and then bigyan na lang namin po kayo ng copy para nang sa ganun mabilis po ‘yung implementation natin ng mga revamp and then vice chair then pinayagan kami sa ganun na setup and I think if we go back din sa history since 2016, yun naman ang naging practice, he added.
Meanwhile, Azurin defended the massive reorganization which reportedly caused tension in the PNP.
He said it is part of his policy flexibility to put police officials in positions where they can best practice their expertise.
Part of the revamp were Lieutenant Generals Rhodel Sermonia and Vicente Danao Jr., the second and third in command in the PNP who were reassigned as Area Police Command (APC) in Visayas and Mindanao, respectively.
“So we need ‘yung mga ganun naman na competency and expertise ng ating mga kasamahan dito unlike if they are only here. They will be representing me in the meetings that I cannot attend to,” said Azurin.
“And medyo sayang naman ‘yung opportunity, sayang naman ‘yung kanilang kagalingan sa respective na mga fields na kung saan hinuhubog sila for the last 30 years,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)