Azurin picked as ICI special adviser due to his experience, merit —Palace

Former Philippine National Police chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. was chosen as special adviser and investigator of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) due to his experience and merit, Malacañang said on Tuesday. 

At a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro was asked what were the things considered in choosing Azurin to replace Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong. 

''Ayon po sa Pangulo, ang pagkakapili po kay General Azurin ay base na rin po sa kanyang karanasan, sa kanyang mga kagalingan, at siya naman din po ay imbestigador, walang komplikasyon, hindi po kasi siya pulitiko,'' Castro said. 

(According to the President, General Azurin was chosen based on his experience and merit and he is also an investigator. There's no complication since he is not a politician.)

Asked about the controversial drug haul in 2022 wherein Azurin was accused of covering it up, Castro said it is easy to just drop names, noting that it is different if cases were filed against the former PNP chief. 

''Kung naakusahan lang, madali po kasing mag-namedrop, madaling magbanggit ng pangalan, madaling magturo lalo na ngayon, iba po kasi pag nakasuhan at nagkaroon ng desisyon na conviction,'' Castro said.

(If he was just accused, it's easy to namedrop, to mention names, and to point fingers. It's different if cases were filed and there's a conviction.)

Castro said it was President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. who picked Azurin.

''Yes. President chose Gen. Azurin,'' Castro said in a separate message to reporters.

The Marcos administration earlier expressed confidence that Azurin’s experience and leadership would further strengthen ''the Commission’s mandate to uphold accountability and transparency in the use of public funds.''

Azurin will assume his duties after concluding his personal and administrative arrangements, according to the OP. 

In 2023, Azurin was linked to the alleged cover-up of the P6.7 billion shabu haul in Manila in 2022. Azurin said there was no plan to cover up the illegal drug case involving dismissed Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. 

A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class “Makatao” Class of 1989, Azurin was appointed as the 28th PNP chief by Marcos 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. —AOL/RF, GMA Integrated News