Purisima's alleged resignation and its effects on the SAF44 scandal--a brewing constitutional issue waiting to break out

So, the "Powers That Be" thinks that it is beneficial for them to "sacrifice" PNP chief Alan Purisima and allow him to "resign." This is a response to the repeated calls publicly made by OIC PNP chief Leo Espina on the need to have just one "authority" managing the police force. With the revelation of Purism's role in the botched SAF operation, it appears that there are two power centers at the PNP, a cause of worry and confusion in the chain of command.

This is actually what is fuelling outrage not just among the ranks of the PNP, but from the public as well--the clear confusion in the chain of command. Who is really in control? Who really is in command? Seems like, this perspective is beginning to be pervasive since this "phenomenon" is not just affecting the police force, but even in the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Commission on Audit (CoA).

Notice that this problem is affecting the constitutional bodies of our fragile democracy. There are no heads of at least three critical bodies of our politic--CoA, Comelec and the PNP.

Because of the conflict in the chain of command, many believe that this is the direct and proximate cause why other troops, like the AFP and even of the PNP failed to provide augmentation support to the beleaguered SAF troopers.

Now, going back to Purism's resignation. I believe instead of placating heated passions, this will surely enflame the current situation and even opened a floodgate of questions.

For one--what is the true reason why Purisima is resigning? Is it because he just suddenly realised the confusion created to the chain of command caused by his suspension as PNP chief? If this is so, then, why only now and not when he was suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman? Surely, if he did indeed resigned due to this reason, then, he was probably pressured to do so. And who pressured him?

However, if Purisima did indeed resigned as an admission of his responsibility for the lives of those SAF troopers, then, another new question arises---so now, the palace is now admitting that the fault now reaches the highest echelons of power, because, truly, Purisima could not have acted alone. Remember that Purisima was suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman and by operation of law, was asked to dispensed of all his powers and authority over the PNP.

His suspension does not cure the problem of delegation of power. He was suspended for another reason and he is resigning due to another reason?

Yes, the President can delegate his power to another, but the delegation must be legal. Is it legal for the President to delegate power to a suspended PNP chief like Purisima? No. Why? Doing so means the President disrespecting the decision of an equal constitutional body which is the Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman, a co-equal constitutional body, exercises the same powers as the President. By allowing and appointing Purisima to head this operation, the President actually broke the law. The aim of a suspension is to prevent the one being suspended from exercising his power and influence over the very institution where he allegedly committed an offence.

Now, with the President himself admitting during his televised speech last week that it was he and Purisima who led the operation and that they decided not to inform DILG secretary Roxas and OIC chief PNP Leo Espina, it is as if, the President tacitly admitted violating the Constitution.

This is clearly an obvious act of defiance against constituted authority, which the President has sworn to follow as his foremost duty.

Malacanan is digging its own grave and I believe there is really no way out from this issue.

Now, if the palace intended to begin whitewashing this issue thru this purported resignation, then, the palace is miscalculating the entire situation and is on the verge of a possible downfall. Probably, people in the palace hopes that, with this resignation, Purisima loses his position and therefore, not entirely in a viable position to testify or reveal what he knows.

Wrong.

Allowing Purisima to resign makes him just an ordinary citizen, subject to the pervasive powers of the Senate. By resigning, Purisima is now exposed and unprotected. He cannot be protected by the Executive. If he refuses to reveal the truth, Purisima can be jailed by the Senate. Is Purisima ready to totally destroy his reputation just to protect the President, his bosom buddy?

A coverup is not a good solution to this.

Mar Roxas behind Purisima ouster moves?

Some people are saying that ouster moves against PNP Director General Alan Purisima are being implemented by several people connected with DILG secretary Mar Roxas. Is this true?

Many of us thought that Purisima is a lapdog of Roxas. According to sources, Purisima is a direct hire of President Benigno Aquino III and does not belong to the Hyatt 10 group of Roxas.

Fact is, Purisima reports directly to the President, and seldom seen in the company of Roxas.

Reports say, Roxas wants another PNP official to replace Purisima. Why?

Purisima will retire from the service on November 2015, a few months before the 2016 Presidential elections. Sources say, Roxas and some Liberal Party stalwarts want a more subservient PNP head by that time.

Sources also say that Purisima knows a lot about Roxas and by resigning, the risk of "leaks" is high. That explains why the Palace is defending Purisima up to the very end.

PNP chief Alan Purisima should be made to resign. Purisima is main reason why criminality abounds

PNP chief Cesar Purisima yesterday just proved how incompetent he is. And he is the primary reason why high-profile criminals and fugitives escape the full fangs of the law.

IMagine, you are the head of the PNP and instead of promoting someone who exhibited true faith in the system and full adherence to the rule of law, you gave him a very poor position and even tried to fool the people into believing that you promoted him?

What Purisima did, I saw that in several movies of FPJ where corrupt high police officials place honest cops in a "freezer" because they are honest and they affect the operations of criminal syndicates especially those crime bosses.

Purisima should be made to resign immediately. He is a disgrace to the uniform. Imagine, he demoted a highly competent police officer who just did his job for the Republic. Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa did what he was ordered to do--put those high-profile fugitives behind bars.

Delfin Lee is one influential SOB. He is using those billions which he got from numerous people to get himself out of the rot. And when someone uses money, expect some people to forget their principles.

Lee is using his millions to "cure" his reputation before the media and likewise, using several contacts to get him out of jail. Well, this is natural to any one accused of a crime.

Sources say, Purisima has been a subject of Presidential scrutiny since last year. There has been talks about his continued involvement in numerous things. Even before he was promoted to chief PNP, there has been several "rumours" of Purisima being involved in this and that, specifically on drugs and jueteng.

What happened now, probably "validated" long standing talks about Purisima.

Mr. President, heed the voice of the People--kick Purisima out of the force. Made him retire early. He has smeared the reputation of the Police force.

Fact is---and I hope General Purisima knows this--late last year, talks that he is to be made to retire early surfaced already. Some government officials want him out because criminal activity has really risen to astronomical heights when he assumed office. Of course, media did not report most of the nasty things that happened but if you closely look at the statistics, you"ll notice that during Purisima's watch, many things really got worse.

If there is any shred of honor left in General Purisima, he should resign for this.

Quezon shootout or rubout? Policemen and soldiers turning rogue?

Calls for a thorough investigation of the alleged "shootout" between government forces and alleged members of a criminal syndicate operating in Quezon and Laguna had intensified after probers found that among the dead were members of the police and the military.

PNP chief Alan Purisima claims that the encounter between the alleged "criminals" and the security forces at Plaridel Quezon province was a legitimate shootout after the "criminals" fired at security forces manning an outpost. Indepth probe however shows that the vehicles where the victims were found bore multiple gun shots. The SUVs were peppered with bullets, with the guns of the alleged victims still unused inside their vehicles. Some of the journalists who covered the incident says it was a classic rubout, while others say, there were indeed, shots fired at the direction of the security forces.

Media sources however confirmed that the occupants of the vehicles were members of a jueteng syndicate headed by a certain Vic Siman Jr. Siman was allegedly the "godfather" of the illegal numbers game in the province of Quezon. The contingent where he rode in was headed towards Camarines Sur when it was "ambushed".

Siman's group is reportedly included in the list of suspected or known jueteng operators in the province of Quezon and Laguna. The group reportedly planned to operate in Bicol, expanding their operations, when they were killed.

Curiously, Siman's group included a Police Superintendent, soldiers, and military intelligence men. What are these uniformed officers doing inside the car of Siman? Why are they protecting a known jueteng lord?

Sources say Siman's group was ambushed by a rival group being protected by the brother of the head of the PNP intelligence group in Quezon.

Seems like our Policemen, our men in uniform, are losing their discipline. Have a grip, will you, PNP Chief Alan Purisima? Government seems helpless in stemming the tide of criminality. In a very short period of time, the rise of criminality could undermine the healthy economic environment.

Government should stamp its foot down and clamp down on jueteng lords and their criminal groups. The DILG should spearhead this drive so that the People will be convinced that it is dead serious in stamping out criminality in all its forms.

Crime rising in RP

Index crimes are rising in the Philippines, according to a source at the Philippine National Police (PNP). Two nights ago, an American serviceman got killed after being mauled by a group of men riding a taxi. The serviceman suffered two knife wounds in the neck and several in the chest which led to his death. It was just a spur of a moment thing. It was not even connected to any robbery.

A 15-year old girl and her brother died when two (2) adults, one allegedly under the influence of drugs, attacked them inside their house in Caloocan. The girl was also sexually assaulted. The victims reportedly fought it out with their assailants before they lost consciousness. The suspects reportedly used a kitchen knife in the brutal slaying. Reports say, the suspect was seen sitting infront of the house before the assault.

Security cameras caught the brutal slaying of a security guard inside a convenience store. Two (2) men wearing baseball caps shot the defenseless guard in a planned heist. The guard died. Later, the two men robbed another convenience store.

These are just some of the gruesome things happening in our society today. And we say that it's more fun in the Philippines?

The Philippine National Police leadership should do something to arrest the decline of peace and order in our society. We are slowly eroding as a decent society. I know, these things also happen in other places, even in such highly secured cities as Singapore. Yet, this does not necessarily mean that we should not do something about it?

Robberies and theft are two crimes which have a higher incidence of prevalence in our society. These are mostly related to economic or financial issues. Murders are different. These are manifestations of a morally decaying society. This is worse than thievery.

Some say, these reports are being shown to force the resignation or early retirement of Director General Nick Bartolome. Bull. Crap.

Honestly, Nick Bart is a good friend. But, circumstances such as this, especially the failure of law enforcement agencies such as his to arrest the slide of criminality justifies a call for his eventual retirement.

It is, however, doubtful if his successor Alan Purisima will be more effective than Bartolome. Purisima's name, according to some, has been dragged into nnumerous controversies, including jueteng and illegal drugs. Yet, even Mar Roxas says, Purisima is the President's favorite.

Nicanor Bartolome's transfer to DILG creating intra-PMA class rivalry inside PNP

The decision of the President for PNP head Director General Nicanor Bartolome to avail of an early retirement has sparked a very vicious and nasty war within the Philippine National Police (PNP). Forces are now jockeying for positions even though Bartolome is still chief PNP.  One of the groups which are actively engaged in intra-class political partisanship is supposedly a group close to General Alan Purisima. 

According to several sources, Purisima is being groomed as Bartolome's replacement. Officially, there is still no name being floated about by the palace or by the PNP. Yes, there are speculations about Purisima's eventual ascension as the New Chief, but there is still no confirmation.

Purisima is formerly NCRPO director. He belongs to Class 1981. There are, however, several  sectors who do not wish for Purisima to become PNP chief, several of which belong to the Chinese community.

Purisima's record, according to these sources, is spotty. He is too close to former PNP chief Hermogenes Ebdane, who is a known Gloria Arroyo general and ally. His name was also tagged as one of two PNP generals receiving jueteng payola. 

Purisima's name cropped up when news about Bacalzo's replacement turned up. However, instead of Purisima (Class 81), the President chose Nic Bartolome of PMA Class 1980.

When Purisima's turn comes, expect the senior directorate to be filled by several Class 81 members and Class 1984. Purisima's ascension to the top post is just an icing on the cake because even if someone other than him is eventually chosen, still, the most dominant class will still be Class 81.

Meanwhile, the present no. 2 man at the PNP leadership, General Art Cacdac (PMA Class 1978) prepares for his years outside the service. Cacdac just retired from the service last September 5, and is being touted as THE replacement for Puno at the DILG. 

How true?

Meanwhile, his post is now with General Emil Sarmiento, of PMA Class 1980. If things are to be believed, Sarmiento might just be the one to replace his classmate when Bartolome does his early retirement, just to follow the traditional scheme of things. 

Sarmiento's ascension to the top post will ease the "political talk" among PMA classes at the PNP right now.