PNP chief gets 4th star

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has approved the promotion of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima to the 4-star rank, the highest grade in the PNP Officer Corps.

Purisima became the 18th chief of the 148,000-strong national police force on Monday, replacing PNP chief Nicanor Bartolome, who opted for early retirement.

The PNP chief said there has been a communication from the office of the President that his promotion had been signed shortly after the turnover of command last Dec. 17.

Purisima said his promotion would allow him to exercise his full authority and command as Chief PNP. He also announced a minor reshuffle, the first since he assumed office.

Director Ager Ontog was appointed as the new chief of the directorial staff or the No. 4 man. Purisima held the position before his appointment to the PNP top post.

Chief Superintendent Carmelo Valmoria, who used to head the CARAGA Police Regional Office (Region 13), was tapped to take over the Special Action Force (SAF).

SAF chief Director Cipriano Querol was promoted as chief of the Directorate for Intelligence.

Earlier, Purisima said he would give premium to CODE-P during his administration, which stands for competence, organization development, discipline, excellence and professionalism.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the program was meant to establish a credible, efficient, effective and capable police force attuned with the integrated transformation program Patrol 2030.

Cerbo expressed belief that the present strategy will “bring to the fore a new breed of professional police officers who share one vision and common objectives to serve and protect the community.”

The spokesman also defended Purisima’s apparent aloofness with the media, saying all PNP chiefs have their own respective management styles.

Cerbo said the entire PNP would be one with Purisima in facing all the challenges which would come his way.

Meanwhile, the Abono party-list said yesterday that the newly appointed PNP chief can best handle peace and order in the country the way he did in Pangasinan when he was still the provincial director there.

“If General Purisima can maintain peace and order in Pangasinan when he was still the provincial director of the province, he can also effectively handle the peace and order situation in the nationwide level,” Abono chairman Rosendo So said.

“Purisima’s effective leadership and unblemished integrity as a public servant in the field of peace and order will serve the nation well,” So said.

“The overall peace and order situation in Pangasinan improved during the incumbency of Purisima. We are confident that he will be able to replicate this nationwide as the new PNP chief.”

So said that as head of the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response unit of PACER, Purisima was able to neutralize notorious kidnap-for-ransom syndicates.

Purisima previously headed the directorial staff of the PNP and was also appointed as head of the election task force of the PNP for the 2013 elections. 

He once served as aide to the late President Corazon Aquino, mother of the President Noynoy. As a member of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), Purisima was tasked to guard Noynoy.

– With Jose Rodel Clapano