MANILA (3rd UPDATE) - President Benigno Aquino III has accepted the resignation of suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima, Cabinet sources said Thursday.
Two Cabinet sources told ABS-CBN that the President accepted Purisima's resignation "with much equivocation."
Purisima's resignation came more than 10 days after the January 25 operation of Special Action Force (SAF) troopers in Mamasapano, Maguindanao to take out Malaysian bomb-maker Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan.
Forty-four SAF troopers were killed in the operation after a bloody encounter with Moro rebels and private armed groups.
Relieved SAF commander Getulio Napeñas earlier confirmed that he received orders from Purisima to push through with the operation without giving advance warning to PNP OIC Leonardo Espina.
Purisima has been suspended as PNP chief since December due to a pending case before the Ombudsman.
His lawyer, Atty. Kristoffer James Purisima, however, said he is not aware of the reported resignation.
"As far as I know, Police Director General Alan La Madrid Purisima has not tendered any resignation," he said on Twitter.
DRILON: MABUTI NAGBITIW NA SIYA
Speaking to radio dzMM, Senate President Franklin Drilon said he welcomes the resignation of Purisima.
He said Purisima's resignation will help lift the burden off Aquino, who has been heavily criticized for the bloody anti-terror operation.
He said this will also help raise the morale of the national police force still grieving for their 44 fallen SAF comrades.
"Dapat naman siguro tulungan natin ang ating bansa para makaahon tayo dito sa mga agam-agam. Kung anu-anong naririnig natin. It does not do good for us. Kaya isa po sa aking paningin na makakatulong ay ang pagbibitiw ni Gen. Purisima," Drilon said.
"Siguro naman kung talagang kaibigan ni Gen. Purisima ang Pangulo ay dapat huwag na siyang magpabigat lalo sa problema ng ating Pangulo, magbitiw na siya. Mabuti naman at he realized na talagang yan ang tamang gawin," he added.
According to Drilon, Purisima's resignation as PNP chief will also dispel fears of a whitewash by the Board of Inquiry, which was tasked to investigate possible lapses in the Mamasapano operation.
He noted that there have been reports that Purisima, despite being suspended, refused to share intelligence information about Marwan, resulting in failed coordination during the operation.
The Senate President said Aquino should now appoint a permanent PNP chief to "establish a clear chain of command."
Meanwhile, the camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay said Purisima must still face investigation despite his resignation.
"Resignation should not be used as a subterfuge for the truth in the bloody encounter in Mamasapano. Purisima must still face the investigation in order to shed light on what was actually his participation in the operation that befell 44 members of SAF," said Atty. Rico Quicho, vice presidential spokesperson for political affairs.
source: abs-cbn
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