Capa sings different tune; now wants to make up with PNP chief

By: Carmel Loise Matus - 11 years ago

Senior Supt. Conrad Capa officially reports to PRO-7 Dir. Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino in his office at 11a.m. on Wednesday. Photo from Carmel Matus

CEBU CITY, Philippines—A week after his outburst, Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa is willing to patch things up with Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima and plans to make the first move.

He told reporters on Wednesday that he and Purisima had a “misunderstanding” on the term “promotion,” which he did not immediately feel was what his transfer to Cebu meant.

Capa pointed out that he could not take back what he said last week when he criticized the PNP chief for transferring him to Cebu.

He admitted he had not talked to Purisima since the police chief’s press conference on March 14.

Capa said he would make the first move to reach out to Purisima as he was in fact happy with his new assignment.

“He’s my brother. It’s more than friendship. It’s thicker than blood,” he added.

“I’d take the first step, [I] being the junior one. I’m just taking my time. I love my boss. I respect him. I was eating at his quarters” in the past, he said.

Capa served as Purisima’s intelligence officer when the PNP chief was Central Luzon police director in 2010.

Capa was upset when Purisima removed him as head of Task Force Tugis in the wake of his arrest of Delfin Lee, a fugitive businessman long wanted for syndicated estafa for his alleged involvement in a multibillion-peso housing scam.

But his frustration turned to anger when Purisima announced at a news conference on March 14 that he was being transferred to Cebu as deputy director for operations of the Central Visayas regional police command.

Purisima had told reporters that Capa’s transfer was a reward and a step toward his promotion to chief superintendent, equivalent to brigadier general in the military. But Capa criticized his superior officer, saying Purisima was fooling the public because his new post could not be considered as a promotion as his new assignment made him only the third highest ranking police officials in the region.

Capa reported to his new post at 11 a.m. on Wednesday and was welcomed by Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, the regional director.

He replaced Senior Supt. Orlando Ualat, who has assumed the post of deputy director for administration after his predecessor, Senior Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr., was transferred to Camp Crame.

Capa maintained that he deserved a promotion for arresting Lee.

“And I deserve that reward. I’ve captured one of the most wanted persons in the Philippines. I deserve a promotion but no, I did not get a promotion. Can you blame me if I felt bad about it?” he told reporters.

He added, however, that as deputy director for operations he would make the regional command the “best in the Philippines.”

He said that it was his first time to be assigned to Cebu although he used to frequent the province on vacations.

Constantino said Capa was fit for his new assignment of monitoring the implementation of anti-crime campaigns of the regional command.

Constantino echoed Purisima’s statement that Capa’s transfer was a stepping stone for police officers who want to be promoted to the rank of chief superintendent.