Guv disappointed over PNP action

 
WAS the relief of Senior Superintendent Alan Purisima as Police Provincial Director of Pangasinan effective March 22 a mere “moro-moro”?

This question cropped up because three days later Purisima was designated as deputy director of the Eastern Police District in Pasig City and was not on a floating status as earlier reported.

A day after Purisima was ordered relieved, Gov. Victor Agbayani, sought Purisima’s reinstatement in his letter to Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno and protested the relief as unfair and counter-productive.

Agbayani had sought an explanation why Purisima was removed from his post as he had been doing his job professionally. 

Purisima’s sudden relief caused a stir soon after his relief was ordered by Camp Crame and implemented by Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Alfredo de Vera.

Supt. Alberto Vinluan, deputy provincial director for operations, was designated by de Vera as officer-in-charge of the Pangasinan police while a new police director has not been designated.

In his letter to Puno, Agbayani questioned Purisima’s relief reportedly due to the three-strike policy of the PNP when Anti-Illegal Gambling Task Force managed to confiscate gambling machines during his watch.

But the ax did not fall on Purisima alone. Supt. Johnny Bacbac was also relieved as chief of police of Urdaneta City due to one-strike policy after the same anti-gambling task force seized gambling machines in his jurisdiction.  

However, Agbayani belittled the task force, especially after receiving some feedback that some of its members were arrested earlier for extortion activities in San Manuel town. The group was subsequently disbanded by Chief PNP Arturo Lomibao.

Agbayani described Purisima as one who performed professionally during the nine months that he has been serving as provincial director of the province.

He also pointed out that the province has been by and large “jueteng-free” under his watch.

Agbayani cited Purisima for a successful campaign against illegal gambling having confiscated total of 247 slot machines locally known as ‘hataw’, ‘ameneng’ and fruit games were confiscated and destroyed.

On top of these, he said, Purisima had been undertaking operations to prevent more serious crimes in Pangasinan.

Purisima recently formed “Task Force” Hagibis which is the PNP’s response to killers and hold-up men operating along the highways, riding motorcycles. Just before members of the task force can graduate from their 38-day training under the guidance of the Traffic Management Group, Purisima was relieved.

Meanwhile, Mayor Benjamin Lim also expressed his disappointment over the relief of Purisima, calling his removal from his post after only nine months in office as “uncalled for”.

“I am deeply disappointed with the sudden turn of events and the news about the relief from post came as a surprise to me and the local officials,” Lim said.

Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino also expressed his deep regrets for the relief of Purisima, clarifying that there was nothing personal when he challenged the latter to show a better performance.

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