PNP chief to seek TRO vs preventive suspension

Director General Alan Purisima. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima will ask the Court of Appeals to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Ombudsman decision to impose a six-month preventive suspension on him.

“He will file a petition for a TRO through his lawyer in the Court of Appeals. He is accorded that right. The TRO is the best remedy they see for the situation,” said PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor.

Mayor said he had yet to meet with the embattled PNP chief, who returned to the country before the weekend, cutting short an official trip to Saudi Arabia.

Purisima was ordered suspended for his alleged involvement in an anomalous PNP contract with a courier service for the delivery of gun licenses.

Asked if the PNP chief would abide by the Ombudsman’s order, Mayor said Purisima will “avail himself of legal remedies.”

“It does not necessarily mean that he will resist it, but he will invoke his right to seek legal remedies accorded him,” the official said.

In a statement on Sunday, the Purisima denied any involvement in the delivery transaction, saying the contract was executed more than a year before he was appointed PNP chief and that he even terminated the agreement with the courier service Werfast Documentary Agency for gross inefficiency.

Silent on controversies

Purisima has kept quiet about the controversies surrounding him, which include the P12-million donation he allegedly accepted for the construction of his official residence dubbed the White House at Camp Crame, his 4.7-hectare property in Nueva Ecija, and the huge discount he received for a new luxury sport utility vehicle he bought in 2013.

Mayor said a copy of the Ombudsman order had been received by the office of the PNP chief although he did not know if Purisima had seen the order.

On Sunday, Purisima’s statement was sent to Mayor for dissemination through the PNP chief’s counsel.

Purisima is expected to return to work after Dec. 9, or after his official leave ends. Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina has been designated PNP officer in charge in his absence.

Mayor said an order had yet to be issued naming Espina, the deputy chief for operations, as the new deputy chief for administration, replacing retired Deputy Director General Felipe Rojas Jr.

The order is to be issued by the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management.

The Ombudsman’s order suspending Purisima sparked speculation of a vacuum in the PNP hierarchy as Interior Secretary Mar Roxas had yet to name an officer in charge should Purisima be suspended for six months.

In his statement on Sunday night, Purisima reminded PNP personnel not to be distracted from their mandate to serve and protect the people even with his looming six-month suspension.