BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- Benguet son, PGen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. assumed as the new chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) through an Assumption of Command Ceremony at the PNP Headquarters in Camp Crame on August 3, 2022.
 
"As I officially assume command of the Philippine National Police, I offer my sincerest personal pledge of professional commitment to the Constitution, the chain of command, and the Filipino people,"   Azurin said.
 
As the 28th PNP chief and the first under President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. administration, Azurin vowed to continue the various programs of his predecessors particularly the fight against criminality, drugs, terrorism, among others.  He will  pursue  his peace and security program MKK=K which stands for Malasakit + Kaayusan + Kapayapaan = Kaunlaran.

The Malasakit program aims to address the external and internal issues of the organization. This covers the Internal Cleansing Program of the PNP through preventive, punitive, and restorative efforts.

"To further strengthen our internal cleansing program, all commanders must exercise the respective disciplinary authority, otherwise, they shall be replaced with a more competent commander," the PNP chief stressed.
 
The Kaayusan Program aims to strictly implement the rule of law without fear or favor.
 
The PNP will also continue in seeking lasting peace in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and various clusters of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict through the Kapayapaan Program.
 
"The Kaunlaran Program is the ultimate goal of my peace and security framework as it presumes that if our government is perceived to be safe and peaceful, then tourists and investors shall come to our beautiful country thereby increasing job opportunities for every Filipino," Azurin explained.  

Azurin also challenged all PNP personnel to embody their sworn duty which is to serve and protect.

"To the 227,428 PNP personnel, as of today, let us steer the country towards greatness by performing our respective tasks. As law enforcers, let us do our best everyday as if it is 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," he ended.
 
Azurin was  born in Tarlac and  raised in La Trinidad, Benguet. He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy MAKATAO Class of 1989. He will serve as the PNP chief until April 24, 2023 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR)