Lacson: Noy can name new chief

Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Panfilo Lacson, updates members of Malacanang Press Corps on the rehabilitation efforts in the Yolanda stricken provinces in the Visayas during a press briefing held at Malacañang. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan/Malacañang Photo Bureau)

MANILA — Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Sunday said that nothing can stop President Aquino in appointing a new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.

The statement is contrary to Malacanang’s previous assertion that there might be obstacles in the appointment of new chief.

The senator said that the vacancy must soon be filled as the lack of new chief has caused the promotion of police officers, among others.

According to Lacson, officers serving in acting capacity might not be able to exercise proper leadership in their designated jurisdictions.

Lacson added that he could not see the reason why  Malacanang said that its lawyers are still studying the legalities of appointing a replacement for Director General Alan Purisima.

Purisima resigned following the Mamasapano incident which killed 44 PNP Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) commandos.

The operation was launched to capture Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan.”

Results of the investigation following the incident revealed that Special Action Force (SAF) chief Getulio Napeñas had directly reported to Purisima before the operation.