Purisima won’t be back yet, on leave of absence until July

Police Director Gen. Alan Purisima will not return to work on Wednesday, June 10, as he will be on leave of absence until July.

Senior Supt. Bartolome Tobias, the Philippine National Police spokesperson, in a press briefing on Tuesday said the suspension of Purisima ended on Tuesday “and he should be back to the PNP tomorrow. But he will be on leave effective tomorrow until July.”

Tobias said PNP officer in charge Deputy Director Gen. Leonardo Espina himself approved Purisima’s request to take a leave from work.

Earlier, Espina said the resigned PNP chief would be reporting to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit office at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.

In December last year, Purisima was ordered suspended for six months over his alleged participation in the anomalous deal with courier service firm Werfast Documentation Agency involving overpriced delivery fees for gun licenses.

“Leave is a right. Actually, his leave can be extended until after July,” Tobias said.

The embattled police official left his post amid the controversy over the bungled Mamasapano, Maguindanao, operation that led to the killing of 44 Special Action Force commandos, 17 Moro Islamic Liberation Front members and three civilians on Jan. 25.

Since Purisima resigned in February, Espina took over the leadership of the 150,000-strong force as its officer in charge. RC