President Benigno S. Aquino III and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima. Malacañang Photo Bureau
MANILA, Philippines—Following the suspension of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima over an allegedly anomalous courier contract, a senator urged him to immediately leave his post.
“He should retire or resign or whatever. He should remove himself from service already … You can call it falling on your sword on behalf of his boss, the President,” Senator Sergio Osmeña III said in an interview at the Senate on Thursday.
Purisima and other police officers were placed under preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly brokering an anomalous P100-million contract with Werfast Documentary Agency.
Another senator called on President Benigno Aquino III to immediately appoint a “capable leader” to run the PNP.
“I hope for an immediate and orderly transition of leadership within the PNP to preserve public order and assure the people’s security this holiday season,” Senator Grace Poe said in a text message to reporters on Thursday.
“I also hope his (Purisima) suspension will not adversely affect police work and our internal security situation as I call on the President to immediately appoint a capable leader to run the PNP during the suspension,” Poe said.
Poe heads the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drug that also looked into Purisima’s allegedly unexplained wealth. She earlier suggested that the PNP chief should take a leave.
Asked if Purisima should step down from his post, Poe said the decision would now be up to the Ombudsman or the President.
Osmeña said he could only hope that the President would do the right thing since Aquino has a tendency to be “hard-headed.”
“You know the President is hard-headed. He stands by his friends, which is not good. In many instances, especially in government, standing by your friends is not a virtue, it’s a shortcoming,” Osmeña said.
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