Purisima denies endorsing successor

MANILA, Philippines - Resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima denied reports that he has been urging President Aquino to appoint his protegé as the new police chief.

“Contrary to news reports, PDG Alan La Madrid Purisima is not in any position to recommend and has not in fact recommended anyone to the President for appointment as next chief of the PNP,” his lawyer Kristoffer James Purisima said yesterday.

Sources said that Purisima may have resigned but he reportedly remains the de facto head of the 150,000-strong police force. President Aquino still listens to Purisima, even on matters regarding the appointment of the next chief PNP, they said.

PNP officer-in-charge (OIC) Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina has taken over Purisima’s post after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the then PNP chief’s six-month preventive suspension in connection with the supposed anomalous contract the PNP entered into with a courier service in 2011.

The source said Purisima is reportedly pushing for the designation of his protégé Director Juanito Vaño, currently deputy chief for logistics, as new PNP chief to ensure that his interests will be protected, especially with the cases he is facing.

Seven senior officials are being eyed to replace Purisima, who resigned as PNP chief amid the controversial police Special Action Force (SAF) operation to capture international terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25 that resulted in the killing of 44 policemen following a clash with Muslim rebels.

The seven are PNP OIC Espina, Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr., Directors Carmelo Valmoria, Ricardo Marquez, Benjamin Magalong, Danny Constantino and Vaño.

President Aquino had earlier announced that he would sit down with Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II to choose Purisima’s replacement.

There is still no word from Malacañang on the President’s choice.

Palace sources said the President is reviewing the credentials of the contenders very carefully.

A retired police official, who asked not to be named, said the President should be guided by loyalty, integrity and reputation of the candidates in choosing Purisima’s replacement.

“Aquino should add to the criteria the accomplishments of the candidate in his years in the police service,” he said.

Espina earned the respect of the public after his strong stand to give justice to the slain SAF commandos tasked to get Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, during congressional hearings on the Mamasapano incident.

Espina and Garbo are the only two police officials occupying the four top positions in the PNP and the President has not appointed anyone to fill the leadership vacuum.