Purisima, other PNP top execs trying new uniforms

MANILA, Philippines - While President Aquino is personally putting pressure on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to prevent and immediately solve crimes, police officials are seriously taking measures to try on their new uniforms.

PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima and other ranking police officials have started wearing the new light blue uniform.

Purisima would personally try a new set of general office attire to determine the functionality, durability and comfort of the uniform.

Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP Public Information Office director, said the PNP leadership is now field-testing the proposed new uniform.

Sindac said they expect to have new sets of uniforms for all 148,000 policemen by next year.

“We want to have uniformed policemen that the community could be proud of. The uniform should be functional, durable and comfortable to allow policemen to perform their job comfortably,” he added.

Purisima and other top police brass Deputy Director Generals Felipe Rojas, Leonardo Espina and Marcelo Garbo Jr. wore the new uniforms yesterday.

Sindac said the new outfit will replace the present blue gray that had been in the service since 1991. The blue-gray uniform had replaced the earlier khaki-colored one.

He said that the uniform for patrol duty is still being finalized to address some concerns raised by policemen who wore them while securing delegates at the ASEANAPOL Conference last month.

Sindac said that the new uniform will not entail any extra burden on policemen and the PNP.