PNP waiting for exec’s reinstatement order

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is still waiting for a copy of the ruling of the Court of Appeals (CA) on the reinstatement of Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, who was earlier dismissed for his alleged link to an anomalous courier service contract in 2011.

The PNP cannot act on the CA order as it has yet to receive a copy, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said.

Once the PNP receives the order, Petrasanta will be temporarily assigned to the office of PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez until he gets a permanent assignment, Mayor said.

Petrasanta, a former PNP Firearms and Explosives Office chief, was a frontrunner for the police force’s top post until he was dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman on charges of grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct and serious dishonesty over the accreditation of the courier service.

The CA reversed and set aside the ombudsman’s decision, saying Petrasanta had issued a resolution opposing the contract.

Apart from Petrasanta, the ombudsman had also ordered the dismissal of resigned PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima and nine other PNP officials after the PNP entered an exclusive deal with a courier service firm to deliver gun license cards to gun holders nationwide.

Aside from dismissal from the service, the ombudsman imposed other penalties such as forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification from government service.

With the CA ruling, all the accessory penalties imposed against Petrasanta were ordered recalled and lifted.