Aquino’s favorite cop promoted

MANILA, Philippines – Director Alan Purisima has been promoted chief of the directorial staff of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Purisima, said to be President Benigno Aquino III’s favorite cop, was plucked from his post as chief of the PNP-National Capital Region Office (NCRPO). He is replacing Deputy Director General Rommel Heredia, who was appointed PNP deputy chief for operations.

A 1981 graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Purisima served at the Presidential Security Group (PSG) during the term of the late President Corazon Aquino. He was with President Aquino when the latter was ambushed in the botched 1987 coup against his mother.

Purisima is expected to become the next PNP chief when Director General Nicanor Bartolome retires in March 2013. Camp Crame sources however said Bartolome is being convinced to retire early.

Heredia replaced Deputy Director General Emelito Sarmiento, who was appointed PNP deputy chief for administration, a position vacated by Deputy Director General Arturo Cacdac Jr who retired.

The turn-over ceremonies involving these positions were held in the PNP general headquarters building in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Sources disclosed that Purisima will be replaced at the NCRPO by his PMA mistah, Chief Supt Leonardo Espina, current head of the Highway Patrol Group.

Class ’81 is the emerging power bloc in both the PNP and the military. Another Class 1981 member, Lt Gen Emmanuel Bautista, is now commanding general of the Army. – Rappler.com