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PNoy to Purisima: Comply with suspension order


(Updated 8:36 a.m., Dec. 13, 2014) Suspended Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima's fate will be discussed upon President Benigno Aquino III's return from an ASEAN summit in South Korea.

In an interview with reporters in Busan, Aquino said the allegations against Purisima have yet to be proven but added that the Ombudsman's processes needed to be followed.

"Now, did he knowingly commit this grievous error? Iyon ang kailangang ma-prove. But at the same time, having said that, [if] the Ombudsman feels that he has to be preventively suspended, then he has to comply and he has been told to do so," Aquino said.

Aquino said he was also already looking for Purisima's replacement because he's due to retire in 2015. 


Purisima will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on Nov. 21 next year.

"So, regardless, parang with or without this issue, naghahanap na din tayo dito. Titingnan natin ‘yung track record ng all of the contenders," Aquino said.

Asked about Purisima's continued stay at the official residence of the PNP chief inside Camp Crame and a possible conflict with PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, Aquino said: "No, [Purisima] is not supposed to be leading.

"He is under suspension. [It is] General Espina who should be leading," Aquino said.
 
At a briefing in Camp Crame on Friday, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II said he would discuss with Aquino what to do with the embattled police chief after the president returns.
 
"Pag-aralan natin ang sitwasyon at magpupulong kami ng Pangulo pagbalik niya mula Korea. At mula Korea at siguro final decisions will be made in due course and in due time," Roxas said.
 
The Office of the Ombudsman ordered a six-month preventive suspension on Purisima over an allegedly questionable contract the PNP entered into with a courier service in 2011, to make sure he would not influence the outcome of the investigation into the deal.



 
On Friday, Sen. Miriam Santiago said Purisima should vacate the White House — the PNP chief's official residence in Camp Crame — out of delicadeza.
 
"Hindi siya dapat doon mag-stay kasi all of these are inherent with the position," Santiago said.
 
Purisima's camp has asked the Court of Appeals last Wednesday to stop his preventive suspension. His camp added he would not honor the suspension order, claiming it was illegal.
 
Roxas, however, said Espina was now the one in charge.
 
"We gave that guidance in the leadership meeting na there ought not to be, dapat walang interruption, pagdadalawang-isip, pagdududa-duda sa pagpapatupad ng mga orders mula sa national headquarters," Roxas said.
 
Espina maintained that despite the issue hounding Purisima, the PNP's morale remained "very high." —Joel Locsin/NB/JST/KG, GMA News
Tags: alanpurisima
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