MAPANDAN – Relieved as provincial police director for alleged failure to control operations of illegal gambling machines barely ten days ago, Sr. Supt. Alan Purisima was returned to his post in Pangasinan Monday after apparently vindicating himself of the charge slapped on him.

Director-General Arturo Lomibao, who was here last Tuesday for the inauguration of the new police station with President Macapagal-Arroyo as guest of honor, confirmed Purisima’s return to his old post in a talk with newsmen after lunch.

He said that investigation on Purisima’s performance in the campaign against illegal gambling machines particularly hataw and ameneng turned in favor of the provincial police director.

Apparently, the request of Gov. Victor E. Agbayani in a letter to the PNP hierarchy for the return of Purisima had a bearing on the matter. Other local officials like Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin S. Lim and even Archbishop Oscar Cruz also vouched for Purisima and asked for his reinstatement to the province.

Purisima showed up at the inauguration of the new P3-million-three-storey PNP building in this small third district town, proving he had indeed returned to his old post. Reports of his return to Pangasinan circulated Monday night.

At the coordination meeting among agencies preparing for the President’s visit Sunday and Monday the officer-in-charge of the PNP provincial command, Supt. Alberto Vinluan, not Purisima, was still the one being mentioned as among the police officers to receive her at the new building.

Lomibao’s confirmation of Purisima’s return to his Pangasinan post apparently was made official only on the day of President Arroyo’s visit.

Purisima said his reinstatement posed a “greater challenge for him to do his job better and
to work harder to fight crimes in the province.

Dagupan Mayor Benjamin Lim said he was happy with the reinstatement of Purisima because “he deserves it.”

Rosendo So, president of the Eastern Pangasinan Chamber of Commerce which wrote a manifesto for Purisima’s reinstatement, also said local businessmen were elated that the police officials reconsidered their decision.

Lomibao however, said that since the two “strikes” were above board, another strike or if another raid on illegal gambling activities in the province proves to be positive, Purisima will be relieved.

“The rule is that police officer will be administratively relieved pending investigation results. Since the investigation showed that the raids were suspicious, we are reinstating. (Purisima),” he said.

Agbayani, earlier asked Lomibao thru a letter that since the members of the AIGSOTF which conducted operations in this province have been arrested earlier for extortion activities and thereto disbanded, “Why should the basis of his (Purisima) relief be the reports of a discredited group?”