Delfin Lee Task Force head changes tune, now happy with reassignment

Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa, Philippine National Police Task‎ Force Tugis chief.

MANILA, Philippines–And suddenly, the task force chief on Delfin Lee’s arrest, who was allegedly relieved from his post, was  “happy” about his “promotion.”

‎After Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa, Philippine National Police Task‎ Force Tugis chief, revealed in a television interview Thursday that his reassignment to regional police office was actually a relief and not promotion, Capa suddenly changed his tune in a later interview.

Capa told at Camp Crame in a briefing the same day that he actually considers his reassignment as a “reward,” and he is “happy” about it.

Earlier Tuesday, Director General Alan Purisima, PNP chief, denied allegations saying Capa was relieved from his post over the questionable arrest of the Globe Asiatique president.

Rumors also circulated that Capa leaked the phone conversation of Purisima with Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali, a province-mate of ‎Lee’s counsel, to ask the validity of the arrest.

Capa said he was advised by PNP chief to keep mum on the issue following his television interview where he expressed dismay against Purisima’s order.

Although he did not stand by some of what he had said earlier on national television, he talked to the press, unafraid of the consequences for defying the order.

‎”I should’ve kept my temper… [But] I won’t take it back. Wala akong ginawa na pinagsisihan ko,” he said.

Contrary to his earlier fears, ‎Capa said that his reassignment is “one step toward his promotion.”

But in his previous interview, he slammed the statement of Purisima and admitted that he was “hurt” by the relief order served to him.

Capa, this time cooler, said that he accepted the relief but he was “shocked” because “everything happened too fast.”

‎Asked if he was demoralized by the sudden and baseless relief orders, Capa declined to comment, but admitted that he was “frustrated” by the development.

He also denied knowing about the conversation between Umali and Purisima on the governor’s alleged attempt to intercept the arrest of Lee.

As his stint in Task Force Tugis ends, Capa said, “at least, somehow, I was able to help the victims of Lee.”

Asked what he would tell Purisima before officially leaving his office at Camp Crame, Capa said he would apologize for losing his temper.

Task Force Tugis is a special team composed of 114 trackers to hunt down five most wanted persons in the country‎.

Capa’s team arrested Lee at the lobby of Hyatt Hotel last Mar. 6 for syndicated estafa after hiding for almost two years.

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