The Philippine government on Wednesday asked hundreds of police officers to resign as it pushes ahead with a «cleansing» of the police force following numerous cases of corruption and drug trafficking.
Interior Minister Benjamin Abalos urged all colonels and generals, some 300 in all, to «have the courtesy to tender their resignations» after an investigation pointed to most of them as being responsible for drug trafficking.
They will be able to continue working as their records are reviewed by a five-member commission, although those found guilty will be expelled from the force. «If you have not been implicated in anything, there is nothing to worry about,» he said.
Abalos described the measure as radical but necessary to attack the problem and said that this is not the first time such methods have been used to clean up the Asian country’s police force.
The police have been carrying out a strong anti-drug campaign launched by former President Rodrigo Duterte and commonly referred to as the ‘war on drugs’. Now, his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has taken over the criticized police operation.
Former President Fidel Ramos also implemented similar measures against the police in the 1990s and ordered the dismissal of officers over 56 years of age and with more than 30 years of experience.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
