Assumption of the 28th Chief PNP
A new dawn has begun in the country’s premier law enforcement agency by the news of the assumption of the newly hailed 28th Chief of the Philippine National Police, Police General Rodolfo Santos Azurin, Jr., on the 3rd day of August 2022.
The Ilocano saying, “Iti gasat, uray ilisi-lisi da pay, sumabat sabat latta, (What is meant to be, shall be),” indeed, envelopes the destiny of PGen Azurin, Jr., chosen as the new PNP Chief by the Commander-in-Chief and President of the Republic of the Philippines, His Excellency Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr., after the seat long-vacant since the inauguration of the President on the 30th of June 2022.
The new top cop is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) MAKATAO Class of 1989, together with two of the current members of the PNP Command Group: Police Lieutenant General Rhodel O. Seremonia, The Deputy Chief for Administration; and PLtGen Jose Chiquito Malayo, The Chief Directorial Staff.
He held various key positions, the latest, as Area Commander of the Area Police Command (APC) – Norther Luzon that composed of regions 1, 2, 3 and the Cordillera. Prior to this, he was Area Commander of the APC – Southern Luzon that composed of regions 4A, 4B and the Bicol region; Director of the Directorate for Comptrollership (ODC); Director of the Directorate for Information and Communication Technology Management (ODICTM); Regional Director of Police Regional Office 1 (PRO 1); and Director of Maritime Group.
Having these in his police service slate makes PGen Azurin, Jr. a well-rounded top brass in both the administrative and operational fields, hence, his appointment as the new top cop.
In his Assumption of Command speech, PGen Azurin, Jr. laid his priority programs that mainly focus on anti-terrorism, relentless anti-illegal drug campaign, and internal cleansing, which have been encapsulated in his former project initiative when he served as the Regional Director of PRO 1, the project “M+K+K=K”, that stands for Malasakit plus Kaayusan plus Kapayapaan equals Kaunlaran synergizes with the President’s top programs that aim for a progressive and resilient nation.
Every police officer in the organization is reminded of their duty as law enforcers through a four-letter representation, that is P.P.S.O. meaning – Prevent Crime (Operations), Pre-empt Crime (Intelligence), Solve Crimes (Investigation), and Organize and mobilize the community (Police Community Relations).
He also stresses out that peace in the community is not the sole responsibility of law enforcers rather a cumulative and continuous partnership among the church and the community, therefore, coining the term “KASIMBAYANAN” or Kapulisan, Simbahan at Pamayanan.
The new Chief PNP, with exemplary zeal and vigor, implore everyone in his message: “Let us steer the country towards greatness by performing our respective tasks as law enforcers; Let us do our best everyday as if it’s our last day; and continue to challenge the status quo as we serve and protect the members of our community to the best of our ability.”
Meanwhile, former PNP Officer-in-Charge, PLtGen Danao, Jr. thank everyone in the organization for making his three-month stint an easier one, “To all the 226,000 PNP uniformed and non-uniformed personnel, thank you very much for being dedicated, making my job easier to accomplish, especially during the successful conduct of the National and Local Elections, the Inauguration of the newly-elected President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., as well as his first State of the Nation Address. Naging matagumpay ang lahat ng ito dahil sa ating mga kapulisan na matiyagang nagbantay, umulan man o umaraw ay patuloy sa pagpapatupad ng kanilang sinumpaang tungkulin.”
He urged everyone “to continue doing our best in providing genuine service and support for all the upcoming plans and programs of our newly installed Chief, PNP, Police General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. Let us all support him as we carry out the missions and functions that will greatly contribute to our vision of becoming a highly capable, effective, and credible police force.”
Police General Azurin, Jr. swore his fealty to President Bongbong Marcos, assuring him that the Philippine National Police shall work closely with the will for an orderly, and peaceful environment, extending assistance and care to every Filipino towards a most progressive country.
