Replacing Alan Purisima
“Jokowi said to have already decided to drop Budi as police chief,” this according to a recent Jakarta Globe report. Jokowi is President Joko Widodo, the popular commander in chief of Indonesia. He was in the Philippines on a state visit last Feb. 8-9, though he was scheduled to fly back to Indonesia on Feb. 10 yet (“Widodo PH visit boosts Aquino,” Front Page, 2/10/15). Coincidentally, both leaders are facing the same impasse on appointing a national police chief. Jakarta Globe’s report may as well convey the urgency of appointing a full-time Philippine National Police chief.
A reading of the Jakarta Globe and the Inquirer reveals contrasting and similar elements on the “crisis” facing both P-Noy, and Jokowi, the most authoritative personalities in their countries—one, predominantly Catholic; the other, predominantly Muslim.
- Jokowi appointed Gen. Budi Gunawan as national police chief. But the latter has since been named a bribery suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission, Indonesia’s national antigraft agency. His appointment has been met with public outrage and his inauguration has been delayed. Indonesian analysts suggest “massive public outrage” if “Joko” proceeds with Budi’s inauguration. On this score, our neighbor appears to be a step ahead of us.
- With Director General Alan Purisima’s six-month preventive suspension as PNP chief by the Office of the Ombudsman, we have been lulled into believing that it was he who was “out of the loop” on police matters. Most likely, his alleged “participation” in the Mamasapano operation contributed to the public outrage over the death of 44 police commandos and made the clamor for justice louder and widespread.
- Both P-Noy and Jokowi seem to be under pressure to appoint a permanent police chief. Malacañang’s statement on the appointment—“[C]ertainly we look forward to the appointment of a new PNP chief” (“Palace: No replacement yet for Purisima,” Second Front Page, 2/08/15)—seems evasive. Bogor Palace dropped Budi from the top nominees. Interim police chief Badrodin Haiti and two others “were being considered as replacements.” Here in the Philippines, “out of the loop” acting PNP Chief Leonardo Espina is not on the list of Purisima’s possible replacements on account of the former’s retirement this July 2015? Palace should say so now!
- Purisima stood by P-Noy years back. Utang na loob is a trait Filipinos cherish. We cannot deny or fault P-Noy this attribute. In Indonesia, personal factors do not bind Jokowi and Budi. Out of respect for our Indonesian brothers’ internal politics, Jokowi’s remarks would suffice: “I will make an official statement as soon as possible, but not now. There needs to be calculations related to politics, law…” Jokowi is facing pressure from “House lawmakers” to inaugurate Budi versus a “demand-driven movement for change.”
No “dithering” on the appointment of our PNP chief!
—MANUEL Q. BONDAD,
