Aquino blasts 'noisy' head of Delfin Lee's captors

MANILA, Philippines - After his controversial change of post following his unit's arrest of top fugitive Delfin Lee, Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa was not among the policemen personally awarded by President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday.

This was even if three members of the Task Force Tugis that Capa headed were awarded for nabbing Lee last month. They were Chief Inspector Rafael Lero, Senior Police Officer Dante Cabalquinto and Police Officer Eugene Amoyo.

In his televised speech during the awarding rites, Aquino did not mention the name of Capa, but  took a shot at the police officer for complaining about being relegated to a different position after his unit's successful operation.

"Lately, we have had an issue of a person who refused to take a new assignment. Matanong ko lang ho kayo, pwede ho ba tayong mamili ng assignment?" Aquino told members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame.

PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima relieved Capa from his post exactly a week after his police unit arrested Lee, president of Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corp who allegedly defrauded Pag-Ibig Fund of almost P6.6 billion by using fake borrowers and fake documents.

Purisima had explained that Capa was assigned as the new third highest police official in Central Visayas. He said this was actually a promotion, which may pave the way for Capa getting a star-rank title.

Aquino said Capa did not get a bad position and his achievements should indeed be rewarded and recognized. However, the President also lambasted the police official for using media for his grievances and for hitting at Purisima.

"[P]umasok din sa kaisipan ko... okay to ah, [he] goes out to media, says this and that, keeps quiet for a while then goes back on a media tour," Aquino said.

He further criticzed Capa: "Ididiin ko lang po, dito sa napakaingay na opisyal na ito, sabihin na nating magaling siya. Siyempre ang tanong doon maasahan ba [siya]? At tila ang sagot na pangkaraniwan doon eh maasahan natin siya kung matutuwa siya. Eh kung di siya natutuwa, e di hindi na natin siya maasahan. Yun ba ang propesyunal?"

The President said Capa's actions were a disservice to the PNP.

"Pinahamak niya ang institution na pagkatagal-tagal ng buhay niya ay pinaglinkuran niya," he said.

He also warned police officials that they should not just expect promotions.

"Kung binigyan naman kayo ng katungkulan at awa ng Diyos ay pinalpak niyo, at umaasa pa kayo na ipo-promote kayo para mas malaking kapahamakan ang gagawin niyo. Excuse me, [that] will not happen," Aquino said.

During the ceremonies in Camp Crame on Tuesday, Aquino also awarded the policemen who fulfilled their duties during the Zamboanga City standoff and in the aftermath of the Bohol earthquake and Super Typhoon "Yolanda."