Goodbye again to a Pangasinan police director

By Eva C. Visperas

The buzz came as a big surprise. Senior   Supt. Alan La Madrid Purisima is out effective today (Wednesday), said a trusted person. What? I said. Of course, I could hardly believe it. I saw Purisima and PNP Chief Arturo Lomibao giving each other a high-five a week ago when the latter came to Lingayen to grace the Gov. Victor Agbayani shootfest.

But, it’s true. I called up Colonel Purisima and he confirmed the news to me. Of course, he was sad and hurt. Yes, he was unceremoniously sacked from his post   for his alleged failure to rid the province of illegal gambling, particularly the proliferation of video machines locally known as hataw or ameneng.

He said he received a call Tuesday night from the regional police office informing him about his sudden relief. The order emanated from Camp Crame. He said he was saddened by his ouster after serving the province for only nine months, saying that he did his best as provincial director.

Again, my favorite song “Just Once” says how he feels. “I did my best but I guess my best wasn’t good enough….”, so go its lyrics. “I’m sad but it’s part of life that any police officer should face,” he said. But the latest I heard is that he will be assigned as chief of staff at the Eastern Police District. With his sudden relief, his deputy for administration, Supt. Alberto Vinluan will be the officer-in-charge.

Purisima suspects that it was his campaign against the proliferation of ameneng that resulted in his ouster, saying that those who were hurt by his drive got back at him. He has confiscated several ameneng machines and burned them in the presence of the media few months ago. He said his campaign was continuing until he was sacked.

Purisima said he expected his relief when the police chiefs of Urdaneta City, Bautista and Alcala were removed from their posts when some ameneng machines were confiscated by the Task Force Against Illegal Gambling. Surprised by the sudden relief of Purisima, Governor Victor Agbayani wrote Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno that he be reinstated.

Agbayani said in his letter that Purisima’s ouster was “unfair and counter productive” as he cited the gains made during the former police director’s nine-month stint.

Agbayani expressed his dismay as to the manner by which Purisima was relieved. “We therefore respectfully ask why should the basis of his relief be the report of a discredited group”, Agbayani asked. He was referring to the task force operatives report.

He said Purisima has performed professionally and based on public knowledge he has made the province jueteng-free. He also cited Purisima’s confiscation of 247 ameneng machines.

During Purisima’s term, Pangasinan was totally jueteng-free.

He said the changing horses in the midstream will disrupt and set back these operations and the efforts to preserve peace and order in our province. Purisima expressed the hope that his programs like seminar for members of Task Force Hagibis involving speed cops who are being trained to go after highway robbers, seminar for investigators to further hone their skills, will be continued. Let’s see if this works.

To Col. Alan, here’s a toast for you. It’s not how long we’ve known each other. What matters most is I’ve felt the sincerity of your friendship.

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(You can also read this writer’s other stories at http://businessblog.prepys.com.)

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