Purisima stays in White House, even as Espina takes over PNP

PNP Director General Alan Purisima. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Despite the six-month preventive suspension meted out to him by the Ombudsman over an anomalous gun license delivery deal, Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima continues to stay in the PNP chief’s official residence inside Camp Crame, Quezon City.

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said that as of Thursday morning, Purisima remained in the “White House,” his official residence in the PNP headquarters compound.

Despite Purisima’s pending petition in the Court of Appeals to stop the implementation of the Ombudsman’s order, Mayor on Wednesday said Purisima had “acknowledged” the suspension.

The Ombudsman last week ordered the preventive suspension of Purisima and other police officials while a probe was ongoing on their alleged links to an anomalous contract in 2012 between the PNP and a courier service for the delivery of gun licenses.

Purisima has denied involvement in the contract, saying that it was executed more than a year before he was appointed PNP chief.

Asked who would be taking over as PNP officer in charge (OIC), Mayor said the post will continue to be occupied by Deputy Director General for Operations Leonardo Espina, “by virtue of the chain of command and succession.”

Espina became the PNP second in command with the retirement on Dec. 5 of Deputy director General for Administration Felipe Rojas Jr., who was PNP OIC from Dec. 3 to Dec. 5, while Purisima was in Saudia Arabia on an official trip.