PNP ‘white house’ renovation above board, donations all accounted for –Sindac

The renovation of the “white house” or the official residence of the national police chief is above board, with all donations accounted for, Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, chief information officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said Friday.

Sindac issued the statement to clarify issues surrounding the deed of donation for materials and services used in the construction of the “white house,” which is located inside Camp Crame and was damaged when Tropical Storm Ondoy hit Metro Manila in 2009.

“The construction project for the PNP 'White House' or the official residence of the Chief, PNP is above board,” Sindac said.

He stressed that the “white house” is “not a real property given to” PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima “but a tangible asset of the PNP that will be issued to future PNP chiefs.”

Purisima is facing a graft and plunder complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with a mansion in Nueva Ecija and the “white hous” renovation.

Deed of donation

Sindac said the controvery involving the “white house” prompted them to “expedite the processing of the deed of donation to comply with the auditing requirements.”

The deed of donation was only signed and executed after full completion of a project, which depends on the availability of donors, he said.

Sindac also said that the Commission on Audit (COA) requires that there should be a delivery and acceptance of the project from the donor to the donee before it could be considered as a donated asset through the execution of a deed of donation.

Why renovate PNP 'White House'

The renovation project started as part of the donors' Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.

According to Department of Public Works and Highways' (DPWH) flood assessment dated February 27, 2013, the rainwater always flows towardsthe northeastern block of Camp Crame where the official residence of the PNP chief is located.

The location also happens to be the catch basin of EDSA and Col. Bonny Serrano Avenue, causing flood whenever there's heavy rainfall.

Not in the books

State auditor Preciosa Miranda asked Purisima in a letter dated September 12 to provide additional documents on the renovation of the PNP chief's official residence since it is not recorded in the books of accounts.

PNP director for comptrollership Chief Supt. Rolando Purugganan said that P11.463 million was spent for the renovation. But, earlier reports said the work was worth P20 million.  

The identified donors were Carlos Gonzales for ULTICON Builders, lawyer Alexander Lopez for Pacific Concrete Corporation, and Christopher Pastrana of CAPP industries.

Purisima was named as "donee" in the deed of donation.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas earlier said his department is looking into the background of the donors. He said the background check aims to make sure that the donors have no "undue influence" on the PNP.

In the press statement, Sindac pointed out that the donors' privacy and security were a serious concern. He said this was the reason why their identities were not revealed immediately.  —Trisha Macas/KBK, GMA News