PNP to answer `White House’ renovation issue in proper forum, proper time

Philippine National Police give media a tour of the detention facilities at the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame.  INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—In the proper forum and in the proper time.

This was the consistent response of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on the controversial residence known as the “White House” now occupied by PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima.

Senator Grace Poe, who chairs the Senate committee on public order and illegal drugs, earlier sought the explanation of the PNP on its “overly huge renovation and repair cost” of the two-storey residence allegedly amounting to P25 million. Purisima has denied this.

When Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP Public Information Office chief, was asked about several issues concerning the White House, he would repeatedly answer, “we will answer those issues in the proper forum and in the proper time.”

Be it the PNP’s stand on the controversy or its reaction to Poe’s statement, Sindac would only reply with the same answer.

He said this was because the PNP has already cleared the issue “not just once, not just twice, but three times” in (several) press conferences.

“We believe that we’ve done our part. Unfortunately it’s not being picked up (by the media) or otherwise they’re taking it in the wrong way or twisting the fact,” he lamented.

Meanwhile, Sindac clarified that the PNP did not source its fund from the agency or from the government.

Sindac said the millions-worth of construction materials were donated by “friends of the (PNP) chief, some of whom are members of the brotherhood.” He was pertaining to the Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines.

“We did not receive any cash donation. It was a design and build project,” he added.

But the PNP PIO chief said they welcome the opportunity offered by Poe to hear the side of the PNP.