"Hindi na siya dapat doon because all of these are inherent with the position. If the suspension order has been handed down, out of delicadeza he should move somewhere else. Maybe he thinks it's only six months, maybe he thinks of the fiscal inconvenience of moving out. It's the nominal consequences."
The Ombudsman earlier ordered Purisima's preventive suspension for six months for grave misconduct and serious dishonesty stemming from an anomalous contract with Werfast Documentary Agency.
An anonymous complaint has alleged that Purisima and other PNP officials got commissions from the mandatory delivery fees paid by gun owners in securing their gun licenses.
Purisima earlier ordered the closure of satellite offices of the Civil Security Group (CSG) tasked to process the licensing of firearms across the country.
Gun owners were then required to troop to the PNP's headquarters in Camp Crame for license renewal and other processes, while their license cards will be delivered by Werfast to their respective homes.
Purisima has sought an appeal of his suspension over a corruption case pending before the Office of the Ombudsman. The PNP chief is protesting the manner by which the suspension was implemented.
Santiago, a former trial court judge, however said: "Ano rason bakit ayaw sumunod? What stays in my mind [is he is] basing his argument on procedure. Mali pagbigay sa kanya. If that's the case, trial judges will always uphold substance of law rather than procedure of law. Argument is weak. It is merely procedural. Nagkamali sa pagbigay, natanggap niya, anong problema? He received the notice."
While President Aquino has been asked to replace Purisima, Santiago sidestepped the issue.
"I don't have any particular ambition to let go or not let go of some incumbent. That's for the President to decide. I must say that the tipping point will come when Purisima himself becomes fully aware he has turned into an embarrassment for the President then perhaps out of loyalty to his chief, he should offer to resign," she said.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
