Espina remains as PNP OIC
Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina will remain at the helm of the Philippine National Police while Director General Alan Purisima serves his six-month preventive suspension over an allegedly dubious contract he entered into.
According to PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor, they are only waiting for the Directorate of Personnel and Records Management (DRPM) and the National Police Commission (Napolcom) to issue the official order appointing Espina as the PNP’s officer-in-charge.
”The DPRM is already communicating with the Napolcom by the virtue of chain of command or succession. The next in line will be the one in charge,” Mayor said in a briefing Wednesday.
Technically, Espina’s term as OIC should have ended on Tuesday but was extended as he is the official qualified to succeed Purisima.
From Dec. 6, Saturday, until Dec. 9, Tuesday, Espina, being PNP’s third in command, took over as the OIC while Purisima was on official travel in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Purisima, however, cut short his trip a day after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered his preventive suspension last December 4, Thursday.
Mayor earlier said Purisima’s leave was effective until Dec. 9–the last day of the international conference in KSA.
Following Espina’s appointment as OIC, two positions will be vacant including the Deputy Chief for Administration and Deputy Chief for Operation since Deputy Director General Felipe Rojas retired on Monday.
Rojas is formerly the Deputy Chief for Administration, PNP’s second in command.
“We’ll see if the PNP leadership will appoint a replacement for Espina as Deputy Chief for Operation and Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr. as Chief of the Directorial Staff,” Mayor added.
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