New PNP chief teases Purisima about controversial ‘white house’

Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima may have found himself in an awkward position on Friday when he was teased publicly about the controversial “white house,” the official residence of the national police chief, by the new resident himself, Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.

Purisima was one of the police generals Dela Rosa acknowledged in the audience during the assumption of command ceremony for him in Camp Crame.

Speaking during the ceremony, Dela Rosa told Purisima: “Sir, last night, my wife and my children toured [the] white house and my wife told me, ‘Ronald, dapat magpasalamat ka kay General Purisima dahil ang ganda ng tirahan natin ngayon. Without General Purisima, hindi tayo makakatira ng ganito kaganda na bahay.”

“Salamat, sir. Galing sa puso, sir. Hindi ako nangangantyaw ah, galing sa puso. Totoo yan, sir. Hindi namin ma-experience without you doing that white house, sir,” Dela Rosa said.

While it was a joke for the new PNP chief, it was no laughing matter almost two years ago for Purisima when he was accused of graft and plunder for the renovations of the white house, estimated to have cost P25 million.

“‘Yung iba kasi masyado lang silang naiingit at masyadong ginagawan ng storya si General Purisima pero hindi nila alam yung paghihirap ni General Purisima na hanggang leeg yung baha na na-experience niya sa old white house,” Dela Rosa said.

“Kaya naghanap si General Purisima ng pondo para mapagawa yung white house at ngayon ako’y nage-enjoy,” he added, drawing laughter from the crowd.

The renovation of the white house located inside the Camp Crame police headquarters was funded by donations, the PNP had explained.

The complainants wanted to know who the donors were to determine whether there would be any conflict of interest in the case of the national police.

Then PNP director for comptrollership, Chief Supt. Rolando Purugganan, said that P11.463 million was spent for the renovation. But, earlier reports said the work was worth P20 million. 

The identified donors were Carlos Gonzales for ULTICON Builders, lawyer Alexander Lopez for Pacific Concrete Corporation, and Christopher Pastrana of CAPP industries. Purisima was named as "donee" in the deed of donation. —KBK, GMA News