Manila: The anti-graft body has sacked national police director Alan Purisima at the end of a half-year preventive suspension order that placed President Benigno Aquino III in a tight spot between friendship and the rule of law.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales dismissed Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Purisima as well as 10 other PNP officials for entering into an anomalous courier service contract with a private firm courier firm, Werfast Documentary Agency (Werfast).
In December 2014, the Ombudsman had placed Purisima as the other police officials under preventive suspension while investigations were on going into allegations that the contract, worth several millions of pesos, was a deal involving a favoured contractor, in this case, Werfast.
The PNP had contracted Werfast’s services in 2011 for the delivery of gun ownership permits.
Collusion
But in the decision rendered June 30, Morales said it was proved that Purisima as well as 10 other officials including Police Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta and P/CSupt. Napoleon Estilles colluded to make it appear that Werfast is eligible for entering into a contract with the government.
Petrasanta and Estilles are two of the highest ranking officials in the PNP hierarchy.
“The Consolidated Decision found that Werfast was a not a registered corporation at the time of the signing of the memorandum of agreement in May 2011, as it was incorporated only in August 2011 with a measly capitalisation of only P65,000 (Dhs 5281),” Morales said.
She added because of they had entered into the fraudulent Werfast deal, the 11 officials are liable for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and grave abuse of authority.
Apart from being dismissed from the service, other sanctions imposed against the erring officials include retirement benefits as well as lifetime disqualification from re-employment in government service.
The gun permit contract had earlier been mired in controversy because it involved Purisima, who is known to be personally close to President Aquino.
Purisima’s friendship with Aquino dates back to the days before he was elected President in 2010.
The latter was the close-in bodyguard to the former who is the son of the late President Corazon C. Aquino.
On the part of the presidential palace, it said that Purisima’s dismissal from service is proof that the “rule of law” takes priority over personal ties.
“The rule of law applies to everyone. We expect the Ombudsman order to be carried out as directed,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.
Earlier, the group Coalition of Filipino Consumers filed plunder, bribery and graft charges against Purisima in connection with his supposed hidden assets that included a sprawling farm estate in Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon.
