MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Thursday, December 4, said it would respect the order of the Office of the Ombudsman’s to suspend Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima and other police officials for 6 months without pay.

Purisima, a close ally of President Benigno Aquino III, is accused of graft for the alleged misuse of gun owners’ courier fees.

“The government shall abide by the decision of the Ombudsman pertaining to the administrative case against Police Director General Alan Purisima and other senior PNP officials,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr told reporters in a news briefing.

Under the rules, the suspension order will be conveyed to Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II who is tasked to implement it.

Roxas said he has yet to receive the order and reserved comment until he does.

“Meanwhile I assure the public that one, the entire PNP will continue to be focused on its law and order duties and function, and two, the PNP is likewise focused on its disaster preparedness preparations for the impending arrival of typhoon Ruby,” he said.

Coloma dismissed concerns that the suspension would affect security preparations for the papal visit scheduled for January.

“No [it will not be affected] because the organization of the Philippine National Police remains whole,” he said, responding to questions. “We have an organization that is focused on it and it is not all reliant on one head or one person only.”

Coloma also said that Purisima has legal remedies such as seeking reconsideration from the Ombudsman. Purisima is currently in Saudi Arabia for an official visit and will return on Monday, December 8.

Aquino has repeatedly come to the defense of Purisima, who is facing graft and plunder charges before the Ombudsman.

The President has close ties to Purisima, who was appointed top cop by in 2012. Aquino has been accused of protecting Purisima who had served as an aide of his mother, the late president Corazon Aquino. As a member of the Presidential Security Group then, Purisima was assigned specifically to guard the young Aquino.

There have been recent calls for his resignation in the wake of high-profile crimes and corruption allegations, but the President had repeatedly defended Purisima’s track record in the PNP. – Rappler.com