Malacanang to abide by Ombudsman’s suspension of Purisima

Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima.

MANILA — The Palace on Thursday said it will heed the preventive suspension order by the Office of the Ombudsman on Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima.

In a briefing, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.

said the Palace has not receive a copy of the suspension order but said that under the rules, the decision will be conveyed to the secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), who to date is Secretary MarRoxas.

Eleven other PNP officials, including 3 generals, were also ordered suspended.

”The government shall abide by the decision of the Ombudsman pertaining to the administrative case against Police Director General Alan Purisima and other senior PNP officials,” he said.

The order, signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, was in connection with the graft complaint filed last October against Purisima and 11 other police officials over the alleged anomalous PNP delivery service contract with private company WERFAST Documentary Agency (WERFAST) in 2011 and misuse of gun owners’ courier fees.

Purisima and the 11 PNP officials will not be paid for the duration of the 6-month suspension.

The other PNP officials ordered suspended included Police Director Gil Meneses, former chief of the Civil Security Group; Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta; Chief Supt. Napoleon Estilles; Senior Supt. Allan Parreno; Senior Supt. Eduardo Acierto; Senior Supt. Melchor Reyes; Supt. Lenbell Fabia; Chief Insp. Sonia Calixto; Chief Insp. Nelson Bautista; Chief Insp. Ricardo Zapata; Senior Insp. Ford Tuazon.

Coloma said they have not determined who will replace Purisima while the suspension order is in effect, noting that they have not even have got a copy of the suspension order.

”As it is served, then he (Roxas) will do what is necessary to implement the decision,” he said.