Palace says PNP to continue effective programs from Duterte admin

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will continue the programs of the organization which have been efficient in maintaining peace and order in the society, Malacañang said on Friday.

At a press conference, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles was asked if President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has specific marching orders for newly-appointed PNP chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr.

Cruz-Angeles said she is not privy to any specific directives from the President but she mentioned that the police force would continue programs from the Duterte administration that were effective in ensuring peace and order.

"There are no marching orders that we know of. The primary mandate of the PNP is to keep order. So peace and order ang kanilang primary na mandato, pagkatapos niyan ay sila din po ang primary executors, they execute the law, they enforce the law (Their primary mandate is peace and order, then they are the primary executors, they execute the law.) So beyond that, the President has not made any other specific orders," Cruz-Angeles said.

"Paalala ko lang po, bahagi din naman po ng peace and order program ng Presidente 'yung continuity (I would like to remind that part of the President's peace and order program is continuity.) So whatever it was that has already been there from the past administration, if it works, we continue that program," she added.

Azurin formally assumed the top PNP post last Wednesday, committing to continue the campaign against illegal drugs with a focus on the rehabilitation of the drug dependents.

Azurin also said he would focus on "cleansing" the PNP ranks from scalawags.

Azurin, who served as the chief of the Northern Luzon Police, had launched his peace and security framework entitled "MKK=K" or "Malasakit + Kaayusan + Kapayapaan = Kaunlaran" which, according to him, is "the combination of care, order and peace shall equate to progress." — RSJ, GMA News