PNP continues anti-criminality campaign despite PNP Chief suspension

PNP checkpoint (Wikipedia Photo)

MANILA — Despite the suspension order for Chief PNP Director General Alan Purisima, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will continue with its anti-criminality campaign as well as providing security, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said on Thursday.

“Patuloy ang PNP sa pagtugon ng kanilang trabaho sa anti-criminality kasama na dun sa kanilang pagtugon sa Typhoon ‘Ruby.’ matatag ang institution ng PNP… hindi ito personality driven, batay ito sa kanilang pagtugon sa kanilang tungkulin sa kabila ng maraming kontrobersiya. (The PNP continues with its duty on anti-criminality campaign as well providing help in typhoon- affected areas, the PNP is a solid institution, this is not personality driven thus they are still focused on their responsibility despite controversies),” Roxas told the reporters after the press briefing on typhoon Ruby update held at National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in Camp Aguinaldo.

While Purisima is serving his suspension, he will be temporarily replaced by Gen.

Leonardo Espina, who will be designated as officer-in-charge, the DILG Chief said.

Purisima’s supposed automatic replacement following his suspension is Deputy Director General Felipe Rojas Jr., the deputy chief for administration. However, Rojas reached the retirement age of 56 last Monday.

The Office of the Ombudsman suspended Purisima for six months in connection with an alleged anomalous transaction arising from a contract with Werfast Documentation Agency tasked to deliver firearms licenses cards of gun holders.

Also suspended without pay over the courier contract were Police Director Gil Meneses, former chief of the Civil Security Group; former PNP Firearms Explosive Office personnel Chief Supts. Raul Petrasanta and Napoleon Estilles, Senior Supts.

Allan Pareno, Eduardo Acierto, Melchor Reyes, and Lenbell Fabia; Supt. Sonia Calixto, Chief Insps. Nelson Bautista and Ricardo Zapata and Senior Insp. Ford Tuazon.

“We have reported to the Ombudsman that we have followed their instructions of serving I will make clarify this is not personal the Ombudsman orders to serve the suspension and that is what we are doing,” Roxas said.