'TF Tugis' chief protests relief

MANILA, Philippines - The head of a police task force that arrested fugitive businessman Delfin Lee last March 6 in Ermita, Manila said on Thursday that he was surprised by his relief.

Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa, relieved chief of Philippine National Police's Task Force Tugis, said the order of PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima caught him flat-footed.

"Unang-una ako'y nabigla kasi wala pang isang linggo matapos makuha si Delfin Lee, naisyuhan ako ng order. So hindi ko pa nga po tapos 'yung report eh na-relieve na ako dito. So nagkaroon po ako ng konting pagkabigla," Capa said in a radio interview.

Read: 'Tugis' chief 's relief is promotion - PNP chief

He said he received the order of his relief from TF Tugis on Wednesday night.

In the order, Purisima assigned Capa as Deputy Regional Director for Operations of the Police Regional Office 7 based in Cebu.

Apparently dismayed by the order, Capa said it would take six months to a year before he could be promoted because of the transfer.

"I will be Deputy Regional Director for Operations ng Region 7. Ako yung pang 3 sa Region 7. Bilang pang-tatlo, yung pupuntahan ko, maghihintay pa po ako ng anim na buwan hanggang isang taon bago ma-promote. Sa akin lang po personally, kung talaga akong tatanawin ng reward, ako naman po ay hinog na para ma-promote eh. Meron na po ditong pwesto, kung gugustuhin nya, ma-a-assign ako dun, ma-po-promote ako," Capa said.

He noted that many of his classmates in the Philippine Military Academy have already been promoted to different posts at the PNP national headquarters.

"Sa totoo lang po marami na po akong kaklase sa PMA na napupwesto na. Meron na pong mababakante dyan puwede na man ako dun, kung gugustuhin nya. So ang ginusto nya , meron pa uli akong isang stepping stone. So desisyon nya po yun, susunduin ko po yun," he added.

He said he has already many accomplishments that may be used as basis for his promotion.

"Dumaan na ako sa mga dapat daanan-- chief of staff, deputy director ng isang district. Kumbaga, maganda naman accomplishment ko in the past how many years. Kumbaga sa sarili ko ako'y hinog na," Capa said.