PNP chief to seek TRO on 6-month suspension

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima is seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) on his six-month preventive suspension in connection with a gun license delivery deal with a private company in 2011.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor yesterday said he could not say when Purisima’s lawyers will file the TRO.

Purisima was ordered suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for approving an allegedly anomalous contract the PNP entered into with WerFast, a courier service, in 2011.

Mayor said Purisima is not resisting the suspension order but is merely availing himself of his right as provided by law.

“He can question the order as part of due process,” he said. “Preventive suspension is not a penalty. The investigation will push through even with a TRO. The respondent will even move for speedy disposition of the case to clear his name.

“Deputy Director General (Leonard) Espina will remain as officer-in-charge until Dec. 9. We will wait for the orders of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Police Commission after that,” Mayor said.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas earlier said the suspension order should be implemented, even as he recognized the right of Purisima to avail himself of legal remedies.

Technically, Espina is now occupying the first three sensitive positions in the PNP, being the officer-in-charge (OIC), deputy chief for administration and deputy chief for operations after Deputy Director General Felipe Rojas Jr., the No. 2 man in the PNP, retired on Dec. 5.

The PNP spokesman was quick to clarify that the absence of an order would not necessarily paralyze the operations of the PNP.

“We have an OIC. Although he has limited functions, he could direct the operations, deployment of troops and resources minus the powers to appoint, designate and reassign personnel,” Mayor said.

Under the alleged anomalous gun license deal that Purisima approved, WerFast will be the sole courier service to handle the delivery of 1.7 million gun license cards for P190 each or about P300 million.

Purisima says a smear campaign has been launched against him by individuals whose illegal business with the PNP was stopped due to the reforms he has been initiating since his appointment on Dec. 18 last year.

President Aquino, who along with Roxas has the last say on Purisima’s appointment, has kept mum about the matter.