PNP's Purisima gets 4th star

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno  Aquino III has approved the promotion of Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima to the four-star rank, the highest grade in the PNP Officer Corps, the PNP said on Friday.

Upon the direction of Aquino, the PNP National Headquarters issued General Orders 2107 making official Purisima's promotion.

Purisima assumed command as the 18th Chief of the 148,000-strong national police force last Dec. 18, upon the early retirement of Director General Nicanor Bartolome.

The PNP officers corps said Purisima's promotion to the highest police rank is "to allow Purisima to exercise his full authority and command as Chief PNP."