Espina temporarily in command of PNP

Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, the third in command of the Philippine National Police, will head the 150,000-strong organization while suspended PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima is away on official travel.

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor told select reporters on Friday that Espina, deputy chief for operation, will be the PNP’s officer-in-charge‎ until December 9, Tuesday.

Purisima is in Saudi Arabia to represent the PNP at a conference with law enforcement officials, which will end on December 9.

The PNP, however, might cut short Purisima’s business trip and ask him to return to the country over the weekend, a police source said.

On Friday afternoon, the PNP gave honors to retiring Deputy Director General Felipe Rojas, the ‎second in command after Purisima.

Mayor said Rojas unofficially served as OIC in place of Purisima from December 3 until Friday only.

Earlier, deputy PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Robert Po said appointing an OIC does not necessarily mean that Purisima needs to vacate his office.

“After the preventive suspension‎, he will be automatically reinstated,” Po said.

Purisima was su‎spended for six months by the Office of the Ombudsman pending the investigation on the allegedly anomalous contract with courier service Werfast Documentation Agency.

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