Purisima next Central Luzon PNP director?

By Mar T. Supnad

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga- This regional police office of Central Luzon, is buzzing with talks that Chief Supt. Allan Purisima, will be the incoming regional director once the new administration of President-elect Noynoy Aquino assumes next month.

This was gathered by this correspondent from a number of senior police officers here who said the assumption of Purisima as Region 3 police director is in the bag and is no longer a secret.

Purisima, a graduate of the PMA class 1981, is at present detailed with the Anti Kidnapping Task Force in Camp Crame.

Although some newsmen who knew Purisima described him as low profile, inaccessible and unfriendly to media, a number of policemen described him as hard-working and brilliant when it comes to intelligence gathering and police work.

“Even our incumbent RD Art Cacdac knows already that he will be replaced by Purisima. While some newsmen based here regard Gen. Cacdac in high-esteem due to his being low-profile and respectful, some of his staff described Cacdac otherwise.

“The morale of the staff here and in the provincial commands is slowly being demoralized brought about by the style of leadership of our RD who has the habit of shouting and subjecting you to public ridicule and embarrassment. Napapahiya at nasasaktan tong mga opisyal na ito. Kaya tinatamad silang magtrabaho,” said a police colonel who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal.

Senior Supt. Manuel Gaerlan, a cum laude of PMA class 1985, an erstwhile Pampanga police director, admitted to this correspondent that he can no longer work with the unproductive attitude of Cacdac “so I prefer to personally relinquish my post as PD and look for other positions.”

A bemedalled police officer who is regarded in high esteem among his peers particularly in Bataan where he worked as PD for two years, Gaerlan left the Pampanga PNP with a heavy heart, newsmen learned.

But for a number of newsmen, they were impressed with Cacdac. “Napakagalang niya, po ng po saiyo maski mas bata ka sa kanya,” said Jimmy Hipolito of the Central Luzon Daily news.

Erstwhile Camp Olivas Press Club president, Ric Sapnu,of the Phil. Star, described Gen. Cacdac as low-profile but “deep” when it comes to police work and managerial skills.