PNP chief hands off on Azurin issue

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. is taking a hands off stand on the issue hounding his predecessor Rodolfo Azurin Jr., who reportedly was held briefly by immigration authorities upon his arrival in Canada.

Acorda said they have no official document on the incident yet.

“In fairness to our chief, I will just remain silent on that,” Acorda told reporters in a chance interview yesterday.

For Acorda, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of Immigration are in the best position to address the issue.

“The way I look at it, the PNP is out of it,” he said.

Azurin earlier tagged his classmate, PNP deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, as the source of information on the Canada incident. He also denied he was deported, saying he offered to leave the country.

Sermonia, in an interview with reporters on Wednesday, denied that he was behind a supposed smear job against Azurin.

Azurin refused to comment on Sermonia’s statement, saying he would discuss the issue at a news briefing upon his return to the Philippines.