PNoy, Roxas bat for Purisima as next PNP chief

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said he and President Benigno Aquino III share the same sentiment that Deputy Director General Alan Purisima is the right replacement for Director General Nicanor Bartolome as overall head of the Philippine National Police (PNP). “I support Alan Purisima. This is the consensus. The President, I believe, also is supporting incoming PNP chief Alan Purisima,” Roxas said in an ambush interview Tuesday. “I know Alan Purisima. Apart from working with him in DILG these last several weeks, I also know of him and his service. I think that he is qualified,” he added.   The PNP is under the supervision of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). Roxas said he believes Bartolome has already accepted his non-duty status ahead of his retirement next year. He also emphasized the necessity of a “smooth turnover” in the PNP ahead of the 2013 elections. “The PNP, in particular, is facing a big challenge in next year, lalong-lalo na sa halalan. So, ang isa pang sinisiguro natin na hindi naman basta-bastang magkakaroon ng gaps,” Roxas said. Bartolome had earlier said he has no problem with Aquino’s plan to place him on non-duty status ahead of his retirement, noting that “whatever the President desires, I will follow.” Aquino had expressed his concern that Bartolome’s retirement in March next year, when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56, could affect security preparations for the May elections. Aquino and Bartolome are set to talk this month or in December about the PNP chief’s future. Meanwhile, Roxas said the DILG and the PNP will announce their preparations for the 2013 polls by the end of the week. “Well, ang mahalaga dito is that in preparations for the elections tinalaga natin si Director of the Directorate Services Alan Purisima to head the election task force. So Alan Purisima, who is the incoming PNP chief, siya mismo ang gumagawa ng plano ngayon, which he will be implementing once he becomes PNP chief,” he said. Roxas was referring to Purisima’s assignment as head of Task Force Halalan 2013. — Gian C. Geronimo/KBK, GMA News