Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) – The six-month suspension imposed on former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima and 11 other top PNP officials will end next week.
The PNP explained on Thursday (June 4) that the preventive suspension issued by the Office of the Ombudsman was issued on December 4 last year but the order was served five days later.
However, there was no confirmation yet if the former PNP chief will show up after his suspension.
PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina said there would be no problem with these officers returning to duty, especially Purisima.
But for now, upon return to service, these police officers will report before the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit in Camp Crame.
This includes Purisima, who does not hold any office in the PNP despite being the highest-ranking police officer.
The fate of returning star-rank officers is on the hands of the Senior Officers Promotion and Placement Board, which Espina chairs.
For her part, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said her office would soon release the results of its probe.
She added that the suspension order imposed on Purisima and other police officials would not be extended regardless of its findings.
“The preventive suspension is six months. If the case is found meritorious and probable cause exists within that six month-period then the case will be filed and suspension will be terminated,” Morales said.
Purisima was suspended due to a graft complaint filed last October 2014 against him and 11 other police officials over the alleged misuse of gun owners’ courier fees.
He stepped down as PNP chief in February after the incident in Mamasapano, Maguinadano on January 25 where 44 Special Action Force commandos were killed.
Purisima is set to retire in November this year.
CNN Philippines’ Gerg Cahiles contributed to this report.
