What Went Before: Controversies in Alan Purisima’s career

In his three decades of service, resigned Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima has been involved in various controversies.

The latest controversy centered on his role in the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, on Jan. 25.

Despite serving a six-month suspension starting December 2014, Purisima, a personal friend of President Aquino, was reportedly on top of the operation intended to arrest Malaysian terror suspect Zulkifli bin Hir alias “Marwan.”

The secrecy of the mission backfired, with 44 policemen, 17 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters and three civilians dead.

On Feb. 6, Purisima resigned as PNP chief, but not from the service.

He was suspended by the Ombudsman over a multimillion-peso contract that the PNP awarded to a nonaccredited courier service firm for the delivery of gun licenses in 2011.

Purisima’s appointment as chief of the PNP in 2012 was controversial.

In November 2012, President Aquino raised the idea of then PNP Director General Nicanor Bartolome retiring early and going on nonduty status before yearend to allow his early replacement and smooth preparations for the elections.

Bartolome had indicated a desire to retire on March 16, 2013, when he shall have turned 56. But Aquino had said this would be too close to the May 2013 elections and it would be too late to appoint a replacement because of the ban on appointments during elections.

In December 2012, Bartolome stepped down three months ahead of his retirement.–Compiled by Ana Roa, Inquirer Research

Sources: Inquire Archives, gov.ph