Who is Rodolfo Azurin, the new ICI special adviser, investigator?

Malacañang has announced the designation of former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. as special adviser of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, the body investigating the anomalies in relation to flood control projects. 

Azurin replaced Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who resigned from the post last Friday. 

But who is Azurin, a former police general like his predecessor at the ICI.

A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class “Makatao” Class of 1989, Azurin was appointed the 28th PNP chief by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on August 1, 2022, replacing then acting chief Vicente Danao.

Azurin was the first PNP chief of the Marcos administration. He retired from the police force on April 24, 2023.

Prior to his assumption as PNP chief, Azurin also served as chief of the Police Regional Office I.

Azurin also served as the director of the PNP Maritime Group and the deputy director of the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management in 2019. 

He also served as director of the Directorate for Comptrollership (DC) as well as the Directorate for Information and Communication Technology Management (DICTM) in Camp Crame.

Drug haul

During his leadership at the PNP, Azurin was linked to the P6.7-billion drug haul in Manila in 2022, involving dismissed Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. — the owner of the property where the 990 kilograms of shabu were recovered by authorities.

The case became controversial after then-Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said there was an alleged attempt of cover-up in the incident. 

But Azurin denied that there was a cover-up in the controversial drug haul, indicating that there was a fact-finding group which intended to dig deeper in the drug mess.

According to the police force, Mayo had been transferred to the Metro Manila District Jail as early as December 9, 2022

Early this year, the PNP said that arrest warrants have been issued against 29 active and former cops in the supposed mishandling of the P6.7 billion drug haul. 

The Manila Regional Trial Court had issued a hold departure order on the police officers who have been charged in connection with the issue. It said it found merit in the argument that the accused could leave the country to evade arrest and prosecution.

No charges were lodged against Azurin in relation to this case. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News