Purisima prepares to leave PNP 'White House'

MANILA, Philippines — Former top cop Alan Purisima started to pack his bags from Camp Crame police headquarters' White House, the official residence for the chief of police.

Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr., spokesperson for the  Philippine National Police, said Friday that Purisima was given a deadline to move out of the White House after he resigned last week.

"Sa sistema po namin sa PNP, once hindi ka na entitled sa quarters na ino-occupy mo, you have one month to vacate the property," Cerbo said in a dzMM interview.

Before President Benigno Aquino III accepted Purisima's resignation, the police official was suspended in December by the Ombudsman over his alleged involvement in gun owners' courier fee anomalies.

Purisima was also tagged for meddling in the Special Action Force operation targeting an international terrorist in Mamasapano, Maguindanao where 44 commandos were killed.

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Cerbo said, meanwhile, that the White House is treated as "positional quarters" for a ranking member of the police force and meant to be vacated once his term ends.

"Ang sabi ko nga noon, para 'yan for the use of the chief of the Philippine National Police," Cerbo said.

The newly constructed residence became the subject of controversies last year for its P11 million price tag, part of which was Purisima admitted to have been donated by his friends.

Despite issues hounding him, Purisima may still be entitled to retirement honors if the court allows it, Cerbo said.