Valenzuela City Congressman Win Gatchalian, a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition or NPC, said his failure to do so will affect the police’s morale and efficiency to fight criminality.

“Now that General Purisima has arrived from his trip abroad, he should immediately call for a press conference to answer all the allegations pertaining to his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN),” Gatchalian said.

The Coalition of Filipino Consumers, a consumer rights group, earlier filed charges of plunder, graft, and indirect bribery against Purisima for his alleged unexplained wealth.

These include a Nueva Ecija mansion and the P25-million construction of the police commander’s “White House” at the PNP headquarters.

Gatchalian said that if resignation is not an option, Purisima could at least take a leave of absence to spare the PNP from being involved with the issue of unexplained wealth he is now being accused of.

“I’m sure General Purisima is an officer and a gentleman and he will not let the entire PNP organization be dragged down as this will have a negative effect on the peace and order campaign,” he said.

Earlier, Gatchalian filed a resolution calling for a House inquiry on the effectiveness of disciplinary measures in the PNP following the series of reported corruption incidents involving police officers.

“There is now a dangerous trend of cops gone bad and who profit from their crimes when they have sworn to uphold the rule of law and to protect citizens from harm. Instead, they are the ones who threaten the safety of the public,” Gatchalian explained.

In filing House Resolution No. 1507, Gatchalian noted the “perceived impression that the Internal Affairs Service of the PNP and the National Police Commission (Napolcom) lack teeth in the discipline and apprehension of unscrupulous and corrupt police officers.”

Gatchalian said there is a need to make the PNP’s disciplinary system better “to ensure that public trust is restored on the police.” (R. Burgos)