By Reina Tolentino/Manila Times
Alan Purisima, who resigned as Philippine National Police (PNP) director-general was formally dismissed from the police service for his involvement in an anomalous courier service contract in 2011.
Ten other police officials, including Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta — whom Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. had endorsed to become the next PNP chief — were also included in a decision handed down yesterday by the Office of the Ombudsman.
In the 50-page consolidated decision, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales found substantial evidence to hold Purisima liable for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and grave abuse of authority.
“Evidence shows not only that Purisima knew what he was doing in signing the (Director Gil) Meneses’ memorandum, but that he himself had exerted pressure and coercion over his subordinates on behalf of Werfast (Documentary Agency),” the decision read.
Aside from dismissal from the service, other penalties include forfeiture of retirement benefits, cancellation of eligibility, barred from taking civil service examinations and perpetual disqualification from re-employment in government service. Aside from Purisima and Petransanta, also ordered out of the police service were Chief Supt. Napoleon Estilles, Senior Supt. Allan Parreño, Senior Supt. Eduardo Acierto, Senior Supt. Melchor Reyes, Supt. Lenbell Fabia, Chief Insp. Sonia Calixto, Chief Insp. Nelson Bautista, Chief Insp. Ricardo Zapata Jr and Senior Insp. Ford Tuazon.
The case stemmed from two complaints filed by Glenn Gerard Ricafranca and the Fact Finding Investigation Bureau of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (FFIBMOLEO) regarding the engagement and accreditation of Werfast as the provider of courier services for renewed firearms licences.
Petrasanta was chief of the Firearms and Explosives Office at the time.
The case prompted the Ombudsman to order the preventive suspension of Purisima last December.
Purisima resigned as PNP chief after he was tagged as having participated in the planning of the botched Mamasapano operation in January despite having been suspended.
Purisima: formally dismissed
