Pangasinan police chief reinstated

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — After he was unceremoniously sacked as provincial police director almost two weeks ago allegedly due to his failure to stop ameneng, a poor man’s slot machine, Senior Superintendent Alan Purisima was reinstated effective the other day.

Purisima told The STAR in a phone interview that he received the formal order to re-assume the post of provincial police director from Chief Superintendent Alfredo de Vera, regional police director, although he had gotten "unofficial news" about it from other sources.

"There is a greater challenge for me now," he told reporters during yesterday’s visit of President Arroyo to Mapandan town to inaugurate the new municipal police headquarters.

Purisima said his return in effect nullifies the previous order for his ouster last March 21.

A report of the now defunct Task Force on Anti-Illegal Gambling about confiscated ameneng (video machines) in Urdaneta City and Alcala and Bautista towns was the basis for his relief.

When he was suddenly sacked, news spread that he would be assigned as chief of the Eastern Police District.

As soon as he was relieved, Purisima asked De Vera in a letter to conduct his own probe and to look at his accomplishments against illegal gambling.

Under Purisima, jueteng, a popular illegal numbers game, was stopped in Pangasinan.

No less than Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz and Gov. Victor Agbayani were surprised about his sudden relief and sought his reinstatement.

Purisima said Agbayani had told him "to carry on because we have so many things to do here in Pangasinan."

For his part, Philippine National Police chief Director General Arturo Lomibao said, "The rule is that (a police official) is administratively relieved pending the investigation results. Since the investigation showed that the raids were suspicious, we are reinstating Col. Puri—sima."