Marcos says call for cops to resign was his directive

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. disclosed Friday that the call of Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos to police generals and full colonels to submit their courtesy resignation was his directive.

Speaking to reporters, Marcos said they have been planning for this and that this is part of his approach in addressing the drug menace in the country.

"Oh, yes. We were planning this for awhile. Well, let me be very clear. Remember, during the campaign, nung tinatanong ako kung ano ‘yung gagawin natin tungkol sa drug war or drug problem (when I'm asked what will I do with the drug problem)," Marcos said.

"This is it. We approach it in entirely differently way. Alam naman natin na ‘yung problema sa drugs hindi mangyayari ‘yan kung hindi kasabwat ‘yung mga iba diyan sa police (we all know that the drug problem will not surface if there is no cop involved)," he added.

Marcos said they have to identify who among the police officials are involved in illegal drugs, adding that this was just a move to cleanse the Philippine National Police from narco and rogue cops.

"Kaya’t kailangan natin tingnang mabuti sino ba talaga ang kasabwat diyan, sino ba talaga ang involved, at sinong hindi na talaga puwedeng mag-serbisyo dahil associated na sila sa mga drug lord," Marcos said.

(We have to identify who's really involved and who are the cops who cannot render police service because they are associated with drug lords.)

"So that is just --- we are just cleansing the ranks and trying to see --- and making sure that ‘yung mga opisyal na natitira sa atin, eh maaasahan natin at hindi nagtatrabaho --- nagtatrabaho para sa gobyerno, hindi nagtatrabaho para sa ibang sindikato (the police officers who will remain should be responsible and working for the government and not for drug syndicates)," he added.

Marcos said they would form a commission and "we will look into the records of all of the officers as we slowly reinstate those who are clear and maybe, we will have to decide what do we do with those that are implicated to being involved in the drug trade."

"Siguro ‘yung mga severe cases kakasuhan natin (Those with severe cases should face charges). So we’ll see. We’ll see first. We’re not yet there. We’re not yet there," the President said.

"We have to build a case. And ‘yung haka-haka lang, chismis-chismis lang. 'Ito involved ito, ito involved diyan.' Dinaanan na natin ‘yan eh. Walang nangyari," he added.

(Those that came from rumors didn't prosper. We've been there.)

He said it must be ensured that cases against those who would be proven involved in the illegal drug trade will prosper.

"So tiyakin natin kung magkakaso tayo ipapanalo talaga natin at makukulong talaga kung sino man ang mga ano napatunayan na kasabwat dito sa drug trade," Marcos said.

(We should win if we decide to file cases against those involved and they should be imprisoned if proven that they are involved in drug trade.)

Philippine National Police chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said he had a command conference with colonels and generals where he discussed with them Abalos' call.

Azurin, who already tendered his courtesy resignation, said some ranking police officers refused to file theirs. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News