DISMISSED National Police chief Alan Purisima posted bail Friday after he was arrested at the airport in connection with charges that he entered into an anomalous deal with a courier service for the delivery of gun licenses in 2011.
Clad in dark shorts and gray polo shirt, Purisima arrived around 1:40 p.m. on board Philippine Airlines PR 2968 from Butuan City, and was arrested by members the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group at the arrival lobby of Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
CIDG director Victor Deona said Purisima was immediately brought to the Sandiganbayan, which said Wednesday there was sufficient ground to put him on trial.
He underwent booking procedures and posted P30,000 bail for his temporary liberty.
Purisima, a good friend of President Benigno Aquino III, has denied any wrongdoing, saying the contract was executed on May 25, 2011, or more than a year before he was appointed as chief of the Philippine National Police.
But the Office of the Ombudsman recently issued a consolidated decision against Purisima and other PNP officials, saying it found substantial evidence to hold them liable for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and grave abuse of authority.
Aside from dismissal, the Ombudsman also forfeited Purisma’s retirement benefits, canceled his eligibility and barred him from reemployment in government service.
The other officials ordered dismissed by the Ombudsman were: Chief Supt. Napoleon Estilles, Senior Supt. Allan Parreno, Senior Supt. Eduardo Acierto, Senior Supt. Melchor Reyes, Supt. Lenbell Fabia, Chief Inspector Sonia Calixto, Chief Inspector Nelson Bautista, Chief Inspector Ricardo Zapata Jr. and Senior Inspector Ford Tuazon.
The case stemmed from two separate complaints filed in 2014 by private citizen Glenn Gerard Ricafranca and the fact-finding investigation bureau of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices regarding the engagement and accreditation of Werfast as the provider of courier services for renewed firearms licenses.
The Ombudsman said Purisima entered into a memorandum of agreement with Werfast Documentary Agency Inc. and accredited the company as the PNP’s courier service for all firearms license applications despite its failure to comply with government regulations.
It cited Werfast’s failure to seek prior registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission and to obtain authority from the Department of Transportation and Communications to operate a delivery service as well as accreditation from the Department of Science and Technology in 2011.
The Palace on Friday said Purisima has the right to defend himself and present his side in court.
“There are processes in the law and the implementation of these strengthens the confidence of citizens in the justice system in our country,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. in Filipino.
“We must also remember that the accused has the right to present his side and deny the allegations during the trial of the case,” said Coloma.
Purisima was chief of the PNP from late 2012 until December 2014, when he was suspended by the Ombudsman over the Werfast deal.
In the months that followed, Purisima was accused of one anomalous deal after another, including the misuse of funds to build his official residence at PNP headquarters.
The biggest controversy came in January 2015, in the aftermath of the bloody Mamasapano clash which claimed the lives of 44 elite police personnel, at least three civilians, and at least 17 Muslim rebels.
It was later discovered that Purisima, despite serving a preventive suspension order, played a role in the planning the operation even sitting in briefings with Aquino.
Before his six-month suspension lapsed, Purisima was ordered dismissed from the police service.