Philippines asks top cops to resign to cleanse drug ties in ranks

Manila, Jan 4 (EFE).- Philippine Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos on Wednesday urged all colonels and generals of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to resign, in what is a radical move to cleanse the institution of officials linked to illegal drugs.

“After several months of study, it appears we have a big problem in the police force that there are still generals and colonels linked to drugs,” Abalos said at a press briefing, according to state-owned Philippine News Agency (PNA).

“All full colonels to generals (…) I am appealing for them to submit a courtesy resignation. (…) This is upon the recommendation of our Chief PNP and other hierarchy of the PNP. This is the only way to cleanse the ranks fast,” Abalos added.

He said a five-member committee will look into the records of the ranking PNP officials and recommend whether to clear them or dismiss them from the service.

The interior secretary did not mention any deadline for the concerned officials to submit their courtesy resignations.

One of the priorities of the controversial former President Rodrigo Duterte (2016-2022) was to “purge” politicians and police officers with links to drug trafficking as a part of his bloody “war on drugs” in the Philippines during his tenure.

Moreover, under Duterte, hundreds of policemen, allegedly acting in self-defense, killed about 30,000 people in anti-drug operations, according to several nonprofits.

Similar cases are being investigated by the International Criminal Court for possible crimes against humanity. EFE

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