National Police Deputy Director General Alan Purisima is Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II ‘s bet as the next PNP chief.
According to reports, Roxas said he will personally make the recommendation to President Benigno Aquino III. The development stemmed from the decision of current PNP director general Nicanor Bartolome to go on a no-duty status within the year. Bartolome is set to retire on March 16, 2013, but he has to undergo surgery for both knees.
President Aquino explained that a no-duty status would ensure that Bartolome gets his full benefits when he retires in March. The option would be to appoint an officer-in-charge and have him run the police in time for the May elections.
Purisima, for his part, was “elated” by the Interior Secretary’s vote of confidence. He had been recently named as head of Task Force SAFE (Secure and Fair Elections) 2013.
