Sen. Marcos to PNoy: fire Purisima

Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Tuesday accused President Benigno Aquino III of holding the Philippine National Police hostage by refusing to totally let go of resigned PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima.

 

In a privilege speech, Marcos said the President should fire Purisima from the PNP and appoint a permanent police chief.

 

“Why is our President holding the PNP hostage to the whims and caprices of a few? Why doesn’t our President heed the call of the people for the outright removal of Gen. Purisima from the service, and not just from his perch as PNP Chief?” the senator said.

 

Purisima resigned as PNP chief after 44 Special Action Force commandos were killed in an operation to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. Purisima allegedly had a hand in the said operation, but the then suspended PNP chief said he merely advised police officers who sought his input. 

 

Marcos said Aquino’s retention of Purisima at the PNP is an insult not only to the widows and families of the SAF 44 but the entire police organization as well.

 

“Kaya pala hindi makapag-appoint ang ating Pangulo ng permanenteng PNP Chief. Tila may nakahanda palang ispesyal na plano para kay Purisima, kung kaya naman nakabinbin ang appointment ng bagong PNP Chief. This is absurd. This is unfair not only to the people and to the widows and families of our SAF 44, but more particularly to the members of our police force,” he said.

 

He reminded the President that the Mamasapano incident made the Malacanang-backed Bangsamoro Basic Law unpopular to some Filipinos.

 

Marcos said it is the right time to give justice to the SAF 44 by sacking Purisima.

“Fire Purisima. Charge him in court for usurpation of authority or official functions, for violating the chain of command, for gross misconduct and negligence that needlessly cost the lives of our policemen, among other serious violations. Throw the book at him. Appoint a permanent PNP chief,” he said. 

 

He added the President is not without any choice as there is nothing that prohibits the latter from “permanently appointing a new Chief of the PNP, who must, as such, be able to lead with moral ascendancy and completely and effectively discharge the mandates of the office for the benefit of the PNP and its brave men and women.”

 

The senator said the Mamasapano issue is not just between the President and Purisima.

“Hindi po maaari na ang ating Pangulo at si Purisima lamang ang nag-uusap at nagkakasundo tungkol sa isyu ng Mamasapano massacre at ng kanyang pagbibitiw. Ang buong sambayanan ay kasama sa usaping ito. Kinabukasan nating lahat ang nakataya dito,” he said.

 

“Mr. President, please listen to the call of the widows of our fallen SAF 44. Please heed the pleas of our people to remove Gen. Purisima from the service and to bring the killers of our fallen policemen to justice, and for their mementos and other personal belongings returned to their loved ones,” he added.

 

Senator Grace Poe, chairman of the committee on public order and dangerous drugs which heard the Mamasapano incident, backed Marcos’ speech.

 

She said the issue is important as it mirrors the principle in government service that public office is a public trust.

 

She added that she has submitted to the Ombudsman two committee reports recommending appropriate actions on Purisima, his properties, and his involvement in the Mamasapano incident.

 

“Muli ko pong uulitin, dapat panagutin kung anuman si Director General Purisma sa kanyang kakulangan at obligasyon,” she said. - JJ, GMA News