Camp Crame, Quezon City
April 24, 2023

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. lauded Police General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., outgoing Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, for his leadership and services to the PNP and the country for 38 productive years, as he led the change of command ceremony and retirement honors at the PNP Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

“During your tenure, we have seen substantial accomplishments in the area of peace and order. The most significant ones are in the campaigns against terrorism, carnapping, loose firearms, child abuse, gambling, smuggling and other illegal operations. In the process, numerous criminal activities were halted and shaken, and perpetrators were brought to justice. To General Azurin, thank you for dedicating the better part of your life to government service and in the cause of peace and order. Indeed, it was a demanding and perilous task that you undertook with extraordinary dedication, bravery and selflessness,” the President expressed in his keynote message.

He emphasized that the work of attaining peace and order remains a constant and continuing task given the pressing challenges confronting the nation’s law enforcement agencies that impact government’s capability to effectively maintain order and justice.

“Hence, in the face of all these, we must ensure all the more that our law enforcement agencies — especially our police force — remain to be strong and formidable. They must be effective in their intelligence and investigations, and in their enforcement of accountability and the rule of law, without fear or favor,” President Marcos Jr. stated.

He called on the incoming 29th PNP Chief, Police General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr., to lead the police force towards continuous rebuilding, strengthening, improvement and capacity building through enhancement of operational ties with other law enforcement agencies both in the country and abroad.

“Make your presence felt in the streets and make them safer. Defend our democratic institutions and our cherished ideals. Protect the people, especially
the weak, vulnerable, and those who indirectly work with us in the same cause, such as journalists, civic-action groups, civil volunteers, and the like. Finally, serve the people with integrity, accountability and genuine justice. Always be open to public scrutiny, and always practice restraint and maximum tolerance in the face of harsh criticism,” he instructed the incoming PNP Chief.

President Marcos Jr. gave his firm assurance in supporting the PNP’s plans and programs that seek to boost the morale of its personnel while honing their skills and advancing their capabilities.

Today’s retirement honors for Police General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. coincided with his 56th birthday, the mandatory retirement age in police service.

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