As of press time, 904 of the 953 senior police officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have tendered their voluntary resignations in response to the appeal made by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos that intends to weed out officers who are involved in illegal drugs and other criminal activities.

Abalos has set January 31 as the deadline for the remaining 49 officers to submit their courtesy resignations though under the law the same could not be prosecuted of insubordination if they fail or would not heed to the call as they are also protected by law.

Abalos made the not so new but radical call after declaring that there are still officers in the PNP who are involved in any manner in the illegal drug trade.

A five-man team with Baguio City Mayor Ben Magalong will take over the screening of the resignations based on the intelligence information gathered. Resignations that will be accepted mean guilt.

Of course, just like in the previous administration and its campaign against illegal drugs, the primary question that needs to be addressed first is the reliability of the intelligence information, the sources and the personnel who gathered it.

Another consideration are the evidences against those whose resignations will be accepted. It should be beyond reasonable doubt otherwise it will not hold water in the courts and will only defeat the purpose of Abalos.

Interestingly, the call of Abalos only qualified the premise that the anti-illegal drug campaign of former President Rodrigo Duterte failed. More damning is the fact that it is also an admission of failure on the part of the current administration as they cannot find a concrete plan of action to eradicate illegal drugs among the ranks and instead resorted to a plainly generic activity.

Illegal drug trade is a complex problem that can never be resolved with simple solutions. Politics plays a pivotal role and the economic state of a country too. As for the involvement of the members of the police force, reactive measures like the one pushed by Abalos will only worsen the situation as it too causes severe demoralization among the ranks.

A thorough and comprehensive program against illegal drugs is what the government needs not just for the PNP but for the country as a whole and its never a two-month thingy.