The Philippine National Police officer in charge was given five days to serve the order from the Office of the Ombudsman dismissing resigned PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima and ten other police officials from service for allegedly entering in a shady deal with a gun license courier firm.
Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina was given the difficult task of serving the dismissal orders to his colleagues, particularly to Purisima, his Philippine Military Academy classmate.
“At all cost, we have to do our duty… They are our friends but sad to say, this has to be done because this is an order from the Ombudsman. If we have legal orders, we really have to do it,” Espina, holding the Ombudsman order, said in a press conference at Camp Crame on Wednesday.
With the dismissal of the PNP’s sole officer with four-star rank, it is feared that there may be a leadership crisis in the 150,000-strong organization. But Espina assured: “There is no leadership crisis in the PNP because I’m the leader.”
“You should understand that the PNP continues to perform its duties whatever happens, if number one falls, the number two takes over. If number two falls, number three takes over, there can be no room for us to have a vacuum because that will have a terrible consequence on the people we serve,” he said.
Vacuum in the PNP leadership is looming with the absence of a permanent PNP chief and the retirement of Espina on July 16.
Also dismissed from service is Police Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, who is believed to be the “PNP chief in waiting” due to his close ties with the family of President Benigno Aquino III.
PNP OIC Deputy Dir. Gen. Leonardo Espina holds the order from the Office of the Ombudsman dismissing resigned PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima, Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta and nine other police officials. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS
The others dismissed from service are former FEO officials Chief Superintendent Napoleon Estilles, Senior Superintendent Allan Parreño, Senior Supt. Eduardo Acierto, Senior Supt. Melchor Reyes, Supt. Lenbell Fabia, Chief Inspector Sonia Calixto, Chief Inspector Nelson Bautista, Chief Inspector Ricardo Zapata Jr., Senior Inspector Ford Tuazon.
Within five days, Espina said the PNP has to serve the order to the respondents, implement it and return the proof of service to the Office of the Ombudman. The office of the chief of directorial staff Deputy Director General Danilo Constantino was tapped to return the proof of service to the Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman’s decision is immediately executory.
“When you’re dismissed from service, you’re dismissed. You’re not part of the police force anymore,” he said.
But Espina said there are still legal remedies that Purisima and the officials could avail to appeal their dismissal.
Their dismissal also entails the forfeiture of their retirement benefits and reemployment in the government.
“It is the right of every citizen to file a motion for reconsideration or appeal,” Espina said. TVJ
RELATED STORIES
Ombudsman hits ‘selective justice’ claim, cites Purisima sacking
It won’t be easy for resigned PNP chief Purisima to claim benefits