Aquino can name new PNP chief–Lacson

Secretary Panfilo Lacson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Contrary to Malacañang’s assertion, there is no obstacle to President Aquino appointing a new Philippine National Police chief, former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said on Sunday.

Lacson said Aquino must soon fill the position left vacant after Director General Alan Purisima’s resignation last month in the aftermath of the Mamasapano debacle.

Purisima was forced to resign after it was revealed that then Special Action Force (SAF) chief Getulio Napeñas had directly reported to him before and during the operation against Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” even as Purisima was under suspension by the Ombudsman in connection with a graft case.

The SAF operation on Jan. 25 resulted in the deaths of 44 police commandos, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels and five civilians in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The lack of a new PNP chief has, among other things, stalled the promotion of police officers, according to Lacson, himself a former PNP

director general.

Lacson expressed concern that those officers serving in acting capacity could not exercise proper leadership in their jurisdictions. The PNP is currently headed by an officer in charge (OIC), Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina.

Phenomenon

Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III echoed Lacson, noting the “phenomenon” at the PNP where the leadership is riddled with officers in acting capacity.

Interviewed over dzBB radio, Lacson said he could not see the logic behind Malacañang’s explanation that its lawyers were studying the legalities of appointing a replacement for Purisima, who had resigned from the service but had not yet retired and, thus, continues to retain the four-star rank of the top PNP official.

Purisima is set to officially retire in November when he turns 56.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the “position is vacant, but the rank is not.”

Different matters

To this, Lacson said a position and a rank were “different matters.” A rank is a consequence of a position but a position does not depend on a rank, he said.

He said there were many instances when a two-star or three-star officer was appointed to the top PNP leadership but had to wait a while until he received his fourth star.

Lacson cited the case in 1998 when President Joseph Estrada appointed Roberto Lastimosa PNP chief even as the then chief Santiago Alinio had yet to retire.

Lacson said it was up to Purisima to retire for the sake of his “mistahs” such as Espina.

No authority

Lacson said the PNP was “suffering” as the PNP officer in charge, Espina, had no authority to do certain things, such as promote police officers.

As a result, there are many OICs in the police force, including the provincial director of Compostella Valley. Lacson said these OICs could only exercise “limited authority” in their areas.

Pimentel expressed concern that many PNP regional directors were serving in acting capacity.

“My question is ‘Why?”’ Pimentel said in the same dzBB program.