Espina says PNP needs a full-time chief

PNP officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE/INQUIRER PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Amid controversies hounding the Philippine National Police (PNP) over the deadly Maguindanao incident, its current head said the beleaguered organization needed a full-time chief.

In an ambush interview on Thursday, PNP officer in charge Deputy Director Gen. Leonardo Espina said it was high time the PNP found a full-time chief after Director General Alan Purisima was preventively suspended over corruption charges.

He said “yes” when asked if President Benigno Aquino III should appoint a new PNP chief to take over the 150,000-strong organization amid the recent deaths in its Special Action Force unit in a botched police operation.

Espina was also repeatedly asked if he had spoken with Purisima since the deadly incident that claimed lives of 44 highly-trained policemen in the Muslim extremists-dominated Mamasapano town.

But he would only tell reporters: “No, we haven’t talked since after the incident.”

Purisima allegedly controlled the operation against Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, despite his suspension ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Sacked SAF commander Police Director Getulio Napeñas admitted reporting directly to Purisima, saying the suspended chief had all the intelligence information on Marwan.

Along with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Napeñas also admitted that Purisima had instructed him to delay informing Espina about the operation until the troops arrived in the battle area.

Technically, a suspended police official could not intervene in a law enforcement mission. This was also affirmed by Espina, saying: “Yes, of course. He’s suspended,” when asked if Purisima should have no function being a suspended official.

“Medyo tali ako kasi I cannot designate as OIC. Pwede ’yung mga normal promotions or designations. Hindi pwede ’yung discretionary (I cannot designate as OIC. Normal promotions or designations are allowed, but not the discretionary ones),” Espina said.

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