New PNP chief Marquez to open Crame’s ‘White House’ to the media

In a bid to achieve “closure” and “transparency,” Philippine National Police chief Director General Ricardo Marquez has vowed to open to the media the doors of what he now considers as his official residence in Camp Crame.

After formally assuming office as PNP chief Thursday, Marquez said he is aware there had been requests in recent months for reporters to take a peek inside the controversial residence dubbed as the “White House.”

“I will open the White House for closure and transparency. Now you will see what the White House looks like," Marquez told reporters in an ambush interview.

“It’s really white,” he added in jest.

The PNP chief, however, did not say when the media's visit will take place.

The two-storey residence inside the national police headquarters hit the headlines last year after reports surfaced that then-PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima allegedly had it renovated in 2013 at the cost of over P20 million.

PNP director for comptrollership Chief Supt.  Rolando Purugganan, however, clarified that the construction only cost P11.463 million, which he said entirely came from donors.

Purisima resigned as PNP chief last February following the Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash in which 44 members of the elite PNP Special Action Force were killed.  

In late June, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of Purisima and 10 other police officers for entering into an allegedly anomalous contract with courier service Werfast Documentary Agency in 2011.

Marquez, a member of the Philippine Military 1982, is the 20th PNP chief. He replaced outgoing PNP officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, who formally bowed out of police service Thursday. -NB, GMA News