MANILA, Philippines – Philippine National Police (PNP) Spokesman Chief Superintendent Theodore Sindac downplayed reports that sacked Task Force Tugis head Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa might face sanctions for “insubordination” and openly questioning Purisima’s decision to reassign instead of directly promoting him.

“It’s just an opinion…. There was no mention from PNP about insubordination. It was the media who fed the word in their question,” Sindac said in a text message to Rappler.

Sindac added that as of Friday, March 21, the PNP had not considered possible sanctions on the relieved task force head.

Purisima has been the subject of Capa’s ire since the latter was relieved and transferred to the Cebu Regional Police Office barely a week after capturing one of the most wanted fugitives, Globe Asiatique’s Delfin Lee. Capa said Purisma was lying to the public when he explained Capa’s transfer as a “promotion,” explaining that the move was only lateral. (READ: PNP lied to Palace, says sacked Delfin Lee captor)

Capa led Task Fore Tugis to the arrest of notorious Kee, who was wanted for syndicated estafa after he siphoned off P6.6 billion in government housing loans using ghost borrowers.

Sought for reaction to possible sanctions, Capa said he was “okay” with it. But, he added, he was confident that whatever sanction or administrative case against him “would not prosper.”

Let bygones be bygones

During a press conference on Thursday, March 20, PNP Deputy Director General Felipe Rojas said based on their assessment, Capa was not yet qualified for the Chief Superintendent (general) position.

Capa flew to Cebu earlier this week to take on his new post as Deputy Regional Director for Operations, a post that is required before police can be promoted to general rank.

After a series of tirades against his big boss in the PNP, Capa said he’s willing to make amends.

In a phone interview, Capa said he has tried to reach out to PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima. “I’ve asked a third party to reach out,” he said, adding that he wasn’t sure if Purisima had already gotten the message.

“Purisima isn’t likely to back down so ako na…. It’s upsetting the PNP too much,” he said. Capa has worked with Purisima since his days as a lieutenant in Nueva Ecija. The two also worked together in Region 3 and the National Capital Region. 

A reconcillation would be better for the organization, added Capa. Despite the younger officer’s tirades against him, Purisima has yet to directly addressed Capa’s accusations.

Seniority, competency

Prior to heading Task Force Tugis, Capa was Deputy District Director for Operations in the Southern Police District. He was, however, pulled out of the position 9 days before he completed a “six-month requirement” to be promoted. Purisima asked Capa to head Task Force Tugis, formed to nab the PNP’s most wanted.

“It was with his assurance that this assignment, if I succeed, would be my stepping board to being a general,” said Capa in a text message. His 7 months as head of the task force did not assure him of the necessary tenure to be promoted.

Asked if he knew about his being 9 days short of completing the 6-month requirement, Capa said: “I didn’t count the exact days.”

Rojas emphasized the need to balance “seniority and competency” in promoting police officers, in order to avoid instances of favoritism by higher-ups.

Controversy over his “non-promotion” aside, Capa earlier told Rappler that a promotion to a star rank does not matter as much anymore. “If my willingness to help [Purisima] form [Task Force Tugis] has left my career in jeopardy, then so be it,” he said. – Rappler.com