No replacement yet for suspended PNP chief

MANILA, Philippines - Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina has been named Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge following the Office of the Ombudsman’s six-month suspension of Director General Alan Purisima.

Espina, however, will be OIC only until Monday, a day before Purisima returns from Saudi Arabia, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said.

Espina will manage the PNP and carry out the tasks of chief without the powers to appoint, designate and reassign personnel.

President Aquino and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II have yet to issue a statement regarding Purisima’s  suspension.

The two have the last say on the appointment of the PNP chief, whether permanent, acting or OIC as provided under Republic Act 6975, the PNP Reform and Reorganization Law.

Purisima’s supposed automatic replacement following his suspension is Deputy Director General Felipe Rojas Jr., the deputy chief for administration. However, Rojas is set to reach the retirement age of 56 on Monday.

He was given retirement honors at Camp Crame yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Robert Po, spokesman for the Office of the PNP chief, said the order of suspension must be served on Purisima personally.

 “A copy of the order was received by the office of the chief PNP, it was sealed in an envelope addressed to chief PNP. It’s a personal mail,” he said.

He refused to further comment on the issue.

A source said Purisima might cut short his six-day foreign trip and return over the weekend to be able to personally address the matter.

Sources said Purisima’s lawyers are mulling the possibility of seeking a temporary restraining order from the Court of Appeals.

Under RA 6975, any police official with star rank can be appointed PNP chief, depending on the prerogative of the President.

Espina and Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr., the chief of the directorial staff, are qualified to head the PNP.

Espina has only seven months left in the service before his retirement in July 2015, while Garbo has 15 months.

Other contenders are Director Benjamin Magalong, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief, and Director Carmelo Valmoria  who heads the National Capital Regional Police Office.

‘Purisima must step down’

Two police generals believe Purisima must voluntarily step down.

Requesting anonymity, the police generals told The STAR in a phone interview that the integrity and image of the PNP would be affected   if Purisima continues to remain in office.

As long as Purisima is the PNP chief, the morale  of the national police would remain affected, they said.

“We hope the President should now let go his PNP chief, and he should select the replacement of Purisima by not his chosen but by merit,” one of the generals said.

Senior and junior police officials also reportedly want Purisima to step down, they said.

Aside from getting involved in a courier service contract and missing rifles, Purisima is facing criminal investigation for graft and other offenses, putting his integrity to question, they said.

Officials said the Office of the Ombudsman would not order Purisima’s suspension if it has no strong evidence against him.

  “They should show an example to other police  personnel, once a police officer was dragged into controversies, he or she should immediately step down or resign from the post,” the source said.

‘Courier contract must be rescinded’

In a statement, Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon said President Aquino must rescind the controversial P100-million firearms license courier contract between the PNP and a private firm after the Ombudsman suspended Purisima.

 “It is imperative for President Aquino  to also rescind the Werfast contract as we cannot allow an anomalous contract to continue as its facilitators are suspended by the Ombudsman,” he said.

Ridon said failure to rescind the contract would mean that the overpriced courier racket continues despite the suspension of police officials.

Allegations against the Werfast contract include the closeness of an incorporator to Purisima and its non-registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) during the entire procurement process, he added.

Promotions

Meanwhile, 20,614 senior and junior police officers will be promoted to the next rank In a simultaneous mass oath-taking and pinning of ranks at Camp Crame and different police regional offices on Monday.

For 23,593 vacancies, 1,475 applicants for police commissioned officer and 19,139 for non-commissioned officer passed the examination and interviews for the 2nd Level 2014 Regular Promotion Program and were found qualified for promotion effective Nov. 30, 2014.

The promotions of the commissioned and non-commissioned officers were approved by Purisima.

At the national headquarters, 143 commissioned officers and 734 non-commissioned officers were assigned at Camp Crame-based National Support Units, Command Group and Directorial Staff.

Each unit and office has its promotion board for commissioned and non-commissioned officers to process the applications of those qualified for appointment to the next rank. – With Ed Amoroso, Paolo Romero