Purisima urged to go on early retirement

PNP chief Alan Purisima. AP file photo

Former senator and police chief Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Wednesday urged resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Alan Purisima to take out early retirement to “stabilize” the police organization.

Purisima was set to return Wednesday to the PNP after serving a six-month preventive suspension from the Ombudsman but he chose to file a leave of absence until next month.

The PNP chief resigned in February after his controversial involvement in the Jan. 25 police operation against terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, while serving out his suspension. But Purisima, a four-star police general, is still in the service since he is not due to retire until Nov. 23 when he turns 56.

Lacson, who served as PNP chief during the administration of deposed president Joseph Estrada, said there could only be one four-star general in the police service and that “as long as Purisima retains that rank, nobody can get the fourth star.”

Purisima could opt for early retirement “so he can stabilize the (police) organization,” he told a television program last Tuesday.

But even with Purisima around, President Aquino can appoint a PNP chief because the position was vacant, Lacson said. Such an appointment should be done eventually “because the PNP can’t be run by a permanent officer in charge,” he said.

The PNP OIC is Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina who will retire next month.

Lacson said the President should appoint a permanent PNP chief for the sake of the organization.

He said there was a need to have a permanent PNP chief so that promotion of police personnel and officers can be acted upon as the PNP chief has the sole authority to promote them.–With Jerry Esplanada