Philippine police chief offers to quit over drug-linked cops

The Philippine national police chief said Thursday he has offered to resign to encourage nearly a thousand other ranking police officials to do the same to regain public trust after some enforcers were arrested due to illegal drugs, further tainting the police force’s notorious image.
Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Wednesday appealed to all police generals and colonels to submit their “courtesy resignations” in a drastic move to improve the police force’s image after law enforcers in the frontlines of the drug crackdown were caught engaging in drug dealing.
Police Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. told a televised news conference that those who would submit their “courtesy resignations” – offers to voluntarily resign from the force – would stay in their jobs unless President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. decides to accept their resignation after an investigation. Azurin dispelled fears of a massive loss of leaders that could paralyze the 227,000-member force.