Deputy Director General Alan Purisima was appointed as the new chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) shortly after Director General Nicanor Bartolome announced his decision to retire next week.

Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd on Thursday announced the appointment of Purisima.

Bartolome opted to bow out early from the police service rather than be placed on a “floating” status until his retirement on March 16.

Roxas commended Bartolome for his “statesmanship.”

“As you all know, his term officially ends in March of next year. But knowing that March will be in the middle of the election period, he has voluntarily agreed to step down earlier so that this transition can happen with a full five or almost six months between the incoming PNP taking on the job and the coming elections,” Roxas said.

The Interior secretary said that the formal turnover of leadership will take place on December 18.

Bartolome said that he decided to turn over the PNP leadership months before his retirement to give the new police chief the authority that comes with a four-star rank general.

“I would rather that the new chief of the Philippine National Police will be able to get immediately the four-star rank. It is just fitting that the chief of the Philippine National Police will have that full authority and that authority usually is with a four-star rank in his shoulders,” Bartolome said.

Purisima, for his part, thanked Bartolome for recommending him to Roxas, who then endorsed him to President Benigno Aquino 3rd.

The incoming police chief said that he will pursue the programs initiated by his predecessor.

A native of San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur province, Purisima is a product of the public school system. He joined the Philippine Constabulary after graduating from the Philippine Military Academy (Dimalupig Class 1981).

Roxas described Purisima as a person with “a strong foundation both in the concept and operation of policing,” having received international training including crisis management and critical incidents courses conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

He added that Purisima’s service as chief of the PNP’s Directorial Staff prepared him well for his new post as Chief of Police.

Meanwhile, the outgoing police chief said that he remains open for any other government position to be offered by the president, but added that he would like to enjoy a private life for several months.

With a report from Catherine S. Valente