Palace: No way for Purisima to become PNP chief

Resigned PNP chief Alan Purisima. RAFFY LERMA/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Malacañang on Wednesday said Director General Alan Purisima can no longer be considered for the PNP’s top post.

“He has resigned as PNP chief,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told Palace reporters.

“My understanding is (there is) no way for him to become PNP chief,” he added.

Despite Purisima resigning in February, at the height of the Mamasapano operation controversy, Aquino has yet to appoint his replacement.

Purisima was set to retire in November this year but he resigned as PNP chief several months earlier to give President Benigno Aquino III “more room to act and move, to address the situation which is affecting the whole nation.”

READ: FULL TEXT PNP chief Alan Purisima’s resignation letter

He was referring to the so-called Mamasapano operation, which resulted in the death of international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and 44 policemen.

Despite the Ombudsman ordering his preventive suspension, Purisima was supposedly allowed by Aquino to direct the controversial mission.

READ: Purisima urged to go on early retirement

The six-month suspension was lifted on June 6 but because of his resignation, Purisima will remain under the Personnel Holding and Administrative Unit of the PNP.

READ: ‘Alan Purisima will be back on duty’

In the meantime, PNP insiders have floated a couple of names: Who will get Aquino’s nod as new PNP chief?

While no shortlist has been released by Malacañang, Lacierda assured the public that the search is ongoing.

“I know that many people are asking about the (search for the) PNP chief…it’s ongoing,” he said.