Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The Philippine National Police is expecting to receive P15 million worth of funds for the repair and refurbishment of the Kiangan Hall in Camp Crame, which serves as lodging quarters of policemen.
In an interview with radio station DZMM, PNP officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina said the restoration of Kiangan Hall was one of the priority projects he endorsed to Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel 鈥淢ar鈥� Roxas II in February.
鈥淚sinama po natin diyan (priority projects) ang Kiangan Hall dahil nga po napakaluma na, eh ginagamit po ng mga pulis lalo na 鈥榶ung mga galing sa probinsya,鈥� Espina said. (We included Kiangan Hall鈥檚 restoration in our priority projects because of its old state. The facility is being used by our policemen in Metro Manila, especially those coming from the provinces.)
Espina said he followed up the request for funds about two week ago, adding that PNP is expecting the decision on the request in the coming weeks.
鈥淭he total requested amount for refurbishment is around P15 million,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we are following it up for us to allocate appropriate funds.鈥�
It can be remembered that the Kiangan Hall earned a spotlight during the Senate hearings last September on the allegedly overpriced 鈥淲hite House,鈥� the official residence of the PNP chief which was renovated during the term of then-PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima.
READ: PNP 鈥榃hite House鈥� construction 鈥檃bove board鈥�
Senators lamented how Purisima allowed his friends to 鈥渄onate鈥� large sums of money for the renovation of the 鈥淲hite House鈥� despite the relatively poorer condition of the PNP General Hospital and the Kiangan Hall, which reportedly lacked equipment and facilities. IDL