PNP: Purisima suspension not penalty

MANILA, Philippines–While the Philippine National Police “respects and welcomes” the suspension of PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima, a spokesperson on Thursday said the organization will “exhaust all available and necessary legal remedies on the matter.”

“It was said on the order, if I’m not mistaken, the PNP chief is given a chance to avail of legal remedies. As an individual, as a citizen of this republic, considering that we are in the government of democracy, we will avail of any legal remedies accorded by the law,” Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said in a briefing in Camp Crame.

PNP Chief Alan Purisima. FILE PHOTO

and other police officers were   placed   under six-month preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly   brokering an anomalous P100-million contract with Werfast Documentary Agency.
“Preventive suspension is not a penalty, it is a preventive measure on the part of the complainant so as the respondent cannot influence the outcome of the probe, and the probe is already being conducted by the Ombudsman,” Mayor said. ‎

Mayor said other PNP officials suspended would also pursue legal remedies.

The official copy of the order had reached the office of the PNP chief, Mayor said. He said he was not privy to the contents as the order was personally addressed to Purisima.

Purisima is currently in Saudi Arabia for an official travel.

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