Capa faces uncertain future in PNP after media outburst

Senior Supt. Conrad Capa INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The fate of a senior police official who earned the ire of President Benigno Aquino for airing complaints about his new assignment in the mass media now hangs in the balance.

The Philippine National Police said Wednesday a committee tasked to look into the public outburst of Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa was close to wrapping up its evaluation of his possible administrative liability.

Deputy Director General Felipe Rojas Jr., PNP deputy chief for administration, said the grievance committee would submit its recommendation on the Capa case in the next few days.

Capa openly assailed PNP Director General Alan Purisima for ordering his relief as head of Task Force Tugis  purportedly in preparation for his eventual promotion to chief superintendent, a star-rank equivalent to the military’s brigadier general.

His transfer came exactly a week after his men captured Delfin Lee, the fugitive real estate magnate wanted in connection with an alleged P7-billion housing racket, last March 6 in Ermita, Manila.

“The grievance committee has already acknowledged the problem. We called (Capa) and discussed with him the issue,” Rojas told the Inquirer.

Although Capa was not formally charged administratively for his behavior, his decision to grant interviews to the media to assail Purisima “is already considered a complaint,” he said. “So we already took cognizance of the case.”

Asked what the possible sanction against Capa could be, Rojas said: “It depends on the deliberation. That’s why we summoned him to get his side.”

Rojas said the committee was reviewing existing polices to check if Capa faced administrative liabilities.

“He could be cited for a less grave offense. If he did not have ill intentions, he could be reprimanded or admonished. He may also be suspended.”

He said it was normal for any organization as big as the police force to have members complaining about its policies on the designation of personnel.

Rojas maintained that Capa’s transfer to the Cebu regional police office as deputy regional director for operations was part of the career ladder of any police official due for promotion to chief superintendent.

“Other senior police officials also occupied the same post before they were promoted to police general,” he said.

Capa got a mouthful from the President when the latter spoke at the Araw ng Parangal sa Kapulisan at Camp Crame on Tuesday.

He was also left out of the list of awardees cited for arresting Lee.

While he did not identify Capa, a visibly irate Aquino castigated the police official for embarking on a “media tour” to oppose his relief.

“I really think (he did) the service a disservice,” the President said. “Let’s say this loud official is good; the question is can we depend on him? Perhaps, the answer is we can as long as he’s happy,” he said.

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