President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is confident that with Lieutenant General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. taking the helm of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the improvement within the police force will be “inevitable.”
The 64-year-old chief executive is optimistic that through Azurin’s leadership, the national police will “emerge stronger, more accessible, more responsive, more inclusive, more relevant than ever.”
“Chief PNP General Azurin’s able governance will serve as the impetus that would further develop and strengthen the PNP in its resolve to promote goodwill and harmony in the heart of our motherland,” he said during the 121st Police Service anniversary at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Monday morning.
Marcos recognized Azurin — PNP’s newly installed 28th chief — for accepting the challenge to lead the 226,0000-strong uniformed and non-uniformed personnel of the law enforcement agency.
“He is a well-rounded officer, having served in the PNP as commander of both northern and southern Luzon areas,” Marcos said of Azurin.
Police up to the challenge
Azurin said the greater challenge ahead for the police service is to sustain the gains of the hard-won democracy and measure up to the national strategic direction set by Marcos that aims to secure food and energy sufficiency, inclusive growth, sustainable development, education and public health for the country founded on peace and unity.
“It will also be a year of continuing change for the organization as we remain resolute in improving police work and capabilities and cleansing our ranks of misfits and scalawags,” he said.
“Guided by the peace and security framework dubbed Malasakit, Kaayusan, Kapayapaan tungo sa Kaunlaran or simply put M+K+K=K. Let us continue to stand in solidarity as we work together for the full realization of the government’s aspirations of a safer, peaceful, more progressive and a stronger equitable society.”
WITH PAULA ANTOLIN
@tribunephl_ phau