Would be PNP chief blames Palace bloc for dismissal

The lawyer of sacked Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta on Wednesday blamed a “power bloc in Malacañang” behind the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to dismiss him from the service along with several other senior officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Alex Avisado said Petrasanta’s impending designation as the next head of the 150,000-strong force was “derailed for his refusal to give in to the demands of a powerful group working to ensure victory in the coming elections.”

“The so-called ‘power bloc’ in Malacañang has long orchestrated a demolition job against Petrasanta, touted as the PNP chief-in-waiting,” Avisado said in an statement.

He also questioned the timing of the release of the Ombudsman’s order, but said they respected the decision to axe Petrasanta, resigned PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima and other senior police officers over the alleged anomalous contract they granted to Werfast Documentary Agency Inc. for the delivery of gun licenses.

“The timing of the release (of the Ombudsman’s order) was obviously designed to derail his appointment as the next PNP chief. The decision was released just a few days before the preventive suspension was set to expire on (July 5),” Avisado said.

The lawyer also claimed the Ombudsman erred in assuming that Petrasanta recommended Werfast as the sole courier service for the delivery of gun permits.