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PNoy accepts suspended PNP chief Purisima's resignation
By ANDREO CALONZO, GMA News
(Updated 11:13 p.m.) President Benigno Aquino III has accepted the resignation of his longtime friend, suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima, who reportedly planned the January 25 operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, where 44 elite policemen were killed.
"Tinatanggap ko po, effective immediately, ang resignation ni General Purisima. At nagpapasalamat ako sa mahabang panahon ng kanyang paglilingkod bago mangyari ang trahedyang ito," Aquino said in a televised address Friday, his second in two weeks.
Existing law, however, bars a public officer who is under investigation over administrative or criminal offenses from resigning.
Before announcing Purisima’s resignation, Aquino reminisced on his friendship with the police official, which dates back to 1987.
Purisima was then a part of the security group which protected Aquino’s mother, the late President Corazon Aquino, during her incumbency.
“Mula noon, hanggang ngayon, marami kaming pinagdaanan; kasama ko siya sa pakikipagtunggali sa mga makapangyarihang interes na maaari kaming ipahamak,” the President said.
“Noong mga panahong bahagi ako ng oposisyon, bagama’t peligroso sa kanyang karera ang pagiging malapit sa akin, hindi po ako iniwan ni Alan,” he added.
Aquino further said that he was letting go of Purisima with a heavy heart.
“Kaya nga po, siguro naman ay maiintindihan ninyo kung bakit masakit para sa akin na aalis siya sa serbisyo sa ilalim ng ganitong pagkakataon,” he said.
Aquino appointed Purisima as PNP chief in December 2012.
‘Big role’ in hunt for terrorists
Purisima is at the center of controversy following the the bloody police operation in Mamasapano where members of the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF), tasked to serve arrest warrant on two terrorists in the area, clashed with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and its breakaway group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
On Wednesday, relieved PNP-SAF chief Director Getulio Napeñas said he received direct orders from Purisima during the operation, despite the police chief’s suspension following accusations of corruption.
Aquino, during his speech, admitted that he tapped Purisima to explain the “intricacies” of the plan to arrest Jemaah Islamiyah leader Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as “Commander Marwan,” which ultimately led to the deadly clash.
Aquino also said in his nationwide address that Purisima played a big role in the manhunt against the two suspected terrorists.
“Naging malaking bahagi din po ng layunin nating tugisin sina Marwan at Usman ang papel ni General Alan Purisima. Marami siyang iniambag sa mahabang proseso at maraming operasyon na pinlano para dito,” he said.
Senators welcome Aquino's move
Sen. Grace Poe, the chair of the Senate Committee on Public Order, said Aquino's acceptance of Purisima's resignation was "a step in the right direction." Poe earlier called on Aquino to fire Purisima in the wake of the Mamasapano tragedy.
Mamasapano clash
On January 25, 44 PNP-SAF members were killed and 12 others were wounded during a firefight with MILF and BIFF forces. The MILF, which has an existing peace agreement with the government, said 17 of its fighters perished in the encounter.
The SAF members supposedly entered an MILF-controlled area to arrest Filipino bomb maker Abdulbasit Usman and Jemaah Islamiyah leader Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, who government authorities said was killed in the operation and whose DNA sample from confirmed by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
In an earlier televised speech, Aquino admitted to knowing about the Mamasapano operation, but did not say who ultimately gave the go signal to the SAF.
A Board of Inquiry has already been formed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to look into possible operational lapses in the operation. The MILF is also investigating the incident.
The Department of Justice, upon Aquino’s orders, is looking into the possibility of filing charges against those responsible for the deadly encounter.
Following the incident, the Senate suspended its deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, which seeks to embody the peace deal signed by the Philippine government and the MILF last year.
Purisima suspension
In early December last year, 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, to make sure he would not influence the outcome of the investigation into the deal.
The complaint that triggered the Ombudsman probe on Purisima and the other officials alleged that the respondents entered into a contract with courier service WERFAST Documentary Agency in 2011 for the delivery of firearms license cards even without proper accreditation.
Purisima is also facing two plunder complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman over his alleged hidden wealth. He had been criticized for his sprawling resthouse in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija, and the allegedly questionable renovation of the PNP chief's official quarters inside Camp Crame. —with Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KBK, GMA News
"Tinatanggap ko po, effective immediately, ang resignation ni General Purisima. At nagpapasalamat ako sa mahabang panahon ng kanyang paglilingkod bago mangyari ang trahedyang ito," Aquino said in a televised address Friday, his second in two weeks.
Existing law, however, bars a public officer who is under investigation over administrative or criminal offenses from resigning.
Section 12 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act stipulates that “No public officer shall be allowed to resign or retire pending an investigation, criminal or administrative, or pending a prosecution against him, for any offense under this Act or under the provisions of the Revised Penal Code on bribery.”
But presidential spokesman Secretary Edwin Lacierda countered in a text message that a 2001 Supreme Court ruling, Estrada vs. Desierto, states that “a public official has the right not to serve if he really wants to retire or resign.”
Decades-old friendship
But presidential spokesman Secretary Edwin Lacierda countered in a text message that a 2001 Supreme Court ruling, Estrada vs. Desierto, states that “a public official has the right not to serve if he really wants to retire or resign.”
Decades-old friendship
Before announcing Purisima’s resignation, Aquino reminisced on his friendship with the police official, which dates back to 1987.
Purisima was then a part of the security group which protected Aquino’s mother, the late President Corazon Aquino, during her incumbency.
“Mula noon, hanggang ngayon, marami kaming pinagdaanan; kasama ko siya sa pakikipagtunggali sa mga makapangyarihang interes na maaari kaming ipahamak,” the President said.
“Noong mga panahong bahagi ako ng oposisyon, bagama’t peligroso sa kanyang karera ang pagiging malapit sa akin, hindi po ako iniwan ni Alan,” he added.
Aquino further said that he was letting go of Purisima with a heavy heart.
“Kaya nga po, siguro naman ay maiintindihan ninyo kung bakit masakit para sa akin na aalis siya sa serbisyo sa ilalim ng ganitong pagkakataon,” he said.
Aquino appointed Purisima as PNP chief in December 2012.
‘Big role’ in hunt for terrorists
Purisima is at the center of controversy following the the bloody police operation in Mamasapano where members of the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF), tasked to serve arrest warrant on two terrorists in the area, clashed with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and its breakaway group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
On Wednesday, relieved PNP-SAF chief Director Getulio Napeñas said he received direct orders from Purisima during the operation, despite the police chief’s suspension following accusations of corruption.
Aquino, during his speech, admitted that he tapped Purisima to explain the “intricacies” of the plan to arrest Jemaah Islamiyah leader Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as “Commander Marwan,” which ultimately led to the deadly clash.
Aquino also said in his nationwide address that Purisima played a big role in the manhunt against the two suspected terrorists.
“Naging malaking bahagi din po ng layunin nating tugisin sina Marwan at Usman ang papel ni General Alan Purisima. Marami siyang iniambag sa mahabang proseso at maraming operasyon na pinlano para dito,” he said.
Senators welcome Aquino's move
Sen. Grace Poe, the chair of the Senate Committee on Public Order, said Aquino's acceptance of Purisima's resignation was "a step in the right direction." Poe earlier called on Aquino to fire Purisima in the wake of the Mamasapano tragedy.
"I welcome the President's decision to transcend his personal ties and conviction with his acceptance of Police Director General Alan Purisima's resignation," Poe said in a text message.
"I am confident that this is a positive step in the right direction to uplift the morale of our police force. It is an affirmation and recognition of the PNP organization's immediate need for a new honest and capable leader, now more than ever," she added.
Sen. Francis Escudero, a friend of Aquino's, called on the President to appoint a PNP chief instead of just an officer-in-charge."I am confident that this is a positive step in the right direction to uplift the morale of our police force. It is an affirmation and recognition of the PNP organization's immediate need for a new honest and capable leader, now more than ever," she added.
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, the chair of the Senate Committee on National Defense, earlier also called on the President to replace Purisima.
"Those are the words the people are expecting from their Commander in Chief. I only hope that everybody gets back on point after this, particularly, the search for the perpetrators of the Mamasapano carnage," Trillanes said.
"PNoy put the interest of the PNP as an organization first before his personal friendship and preferences. I commend him for that. However, he still did not name a permanent PNP Chief in order to provide stability and direction in the PNP at this difficult time. I urge him to appoint one at the soonest," Escudero said.
On January 25, 44 PNP-SAF members were killed and 12 others were wounded during a firefight with MILF and BIFF forces. The MILF, which has an existing peace agreement with the government, said 17 of its fighters perished in the encounter.
The SAF members supposedly entered an MILF-controlled area to arrest Filipino bomb maker Abdulbasit Usman and Jemaah Islamiyah leader Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, who government authorities said was killed in the operation and whose DNA sample from confirmed by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
In an earlier televised speech, Aquino admitted to knowing about the Mamasapano operation, but did not say who ultimately gave the go signal to the SAF.
A Board of Inquiry has already been formed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to look into possible operational lapses in the operation. The MILF is also investigating the incident.
The Department of Justice, upon Aquino’s orders, is looking into the possibility of filing charges against those responsible for the deadly encounter.
Following the incident, the Senate suspended its deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, which seeks to embody the peace deal signed by the Philippine government and the MILF last year.
Purisima suspension
In early December last year, 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, to make sure he would not influence the outcome of the investigation into the deal.
The complaint that triggered the Ombudsman probe on Purisima and the other officials alleged that the respondents entered into a contract with courier service WERFAST Documentary Agency in 2011 for the delivery of firearms license cards even without proper accreditation.
Purisima is also facing two plunder complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman over his alleged hidden wealth. He had been criticized for his sprawling resthouse in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija, and the allegedly questionable renovation of the PNP chief's official quarters inside Camp Crame. —with Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KBK, GMA News
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