PNP chief Purisima told to explain wealth in Senate hearing

Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima is expected to bring to the Senate his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth and explain the multi-million properties which he allegedly owns as claimed by an anti-crime group.

 

Senator Grace Poe said Monday that she already wrote a letter to Purisima asking him to present his SALN before the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs when he attends the next hearing on September 30.

 

She said the PNP chief promised that he would attend the hearing and bring his SALN.

 

“Sa tingin ko ay pupunta na siya, pero ayoko namang pangunahan siya. Gusto kong bigyan siya ng benefit of the doubt. Sabi niya sa pagkakataon na ipatawag naming muli siya sa hearing ay darating siya. sinabi niya na pupunta siya. Dadalhin daw niya (ang SALN),” the senator said.

 

Last week, Purisima earned the ire of senators for his failure to attend the hearing.

 

Poe said the hearing was for the PNP modernization bill but the committee would most likely discuss the issues now hounding the police leadership.

 

“Ang hearing natin ay ukol sa PNP modernization bills pati yung supposed rising criminality sa ating bansa at kung papaano tayo makakatulong para maibsan ang problemang ito, ngayon kasama diyan ang issue ng liderato. How confident or secure are we with the leadership of the PNP. All questions regarding his office and also perhaps his SALN will be discussed,” she said.

 

She added that certain anomalies or inconsistencies that need further investigation would be up to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to handle.

 

The senator said she wanted to be clarified with the issues being hurled against Purisima such as the renovation on the “White House,” the official residence of the PNP chief, his alleged rest house in Nueva Ecija, and various condominium units as alleged by Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption.

 

“Para sa akin pagkakataon ito ng chief PNP na mag-eksplika, depensahan ang kanyang sarili kung sa tingin niya ay mayroong di makatarungan ukol dito. So bibigyan natin siya ng pagkakataon.  Sana ay magpakita siya lalong-lalo na kung wala naman siyang itinatago para mahimasmasan din ang publiko na wala silang dapat ikatakot,” she said.

 

She added that if everything was aboveboard then there should be no apprehension to show the SALN.

 

“Para sa akin, hindi lamang yung mga pagbabago na gusto nating makita sa PNP ay yung mga sistema, kailangan din yung liderato mismo magkaroon ng kumpyansa tayong lahat lalong-lalo na yung mga miyembro mismo ng PNP,” she said. —NB, GMA News