Alan Purisima hits media for coverage of questioned mansion

By ELIZABETH MARCELO, GMA News

Published October 2, 2014 1:11pm

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima on Thursday scored some media personalities over alleged malicious reports on his 4.7-hectare property in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija.

At a press conference at the PNP Headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City, Purisima singled out a broadcast network and its anchors and reporters over reports and commentaries allegedly suggesting that the property he owns in San Leonardo town was extravagant.

He particularly identified ABS-CBN News television anchors Noli De Castro, Ted Failon and Anthony Taberna, reporter Alvin Elchico and radio commentator Gerry Baja as the ones allegedly trying to attack him and malign his reputation based sorely on an aerial shot taken by ABS-CBN of his property.

Purisima said the personalities were trying to attack him and malign his reputation based sorely on an aerial shot taken of his property.

In an official statement issued by ABS-CBN, the network said it was standing by its reports on the matter.

“ABS-CBN News stands strongly by the story of Ted Failon on PNP chief Alan Purisima’s property in Nueva Ecija,” the statement said.

“ABS-CBN News conducted rigorous research and fact-checking before putting out the report while observing the highest ethical standards in journalism,” it added.

At the press conference, Purisima particularly mentioned the report of Failon as the root of the misinformation about the property.

“All actuations and commentaries thereafter took off from the presentation with anotation by TV-Radio personality Ted Failon of an aerial footage of my said property. He described said property as luxurious with several buildings and my house as a mansion, a villa,” Purisima said.

“As such, pati na po ang mga ibang mga sikat na personality, tulad nila Mr. Noli De Castro, Mr. Alvin Elchico, Mr. Vic Lima, Ms. Karen Davila, Mr. Anthony Taberna at Gerry Baja ay panay ang batikos sa bahay as mansion na rin,” he added.

Purisima said the total floor area of his house was only 204 squaremeters (sqm), including the attic. , and that based on the latest assessment, its fair market value is just P2.3 million.

He said that at most, his property could only only fetch P3 million to P4 million if sold.

Purisima admittted that there were other structures within his 4.7-hectare property like a nipa hut, gazebo and swimming pool, but maintained that there was nothing extravagant with these structures and that these were constructed using his family's savings.

The groups Coalition of Filipino Consumers (CFC) and the Volunteer Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) had earlier separately filed graft, bribery and plunder charges against Purisima for his San Leonardo mansion and his alleged “White House” residence in Camp Crame, among others.

The groups alleged that Purisima was not being truthful in his declaration on his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) in 2012 and 2013 that his property in San Leonardo was only acquired for P1.2 million in 2002 and its present market value is only at P3.75 million.

“Malinis po ang kunsensiya natin. Hindi po siya mansyon. Ordinaryong bahay lang po siya na siyang in-improve namin over the years,” Purisima said.

“Iniimbitahan ko po kayo, mga miyembro ng media, na puntahan ang aking bahay sa San Leonardo, upang personal ninyong makita kung may irregularidad ba dito,” he added.

Purisima dismissed recent allegations against him as efforts of some detractors of the administration to stall reforms in the PNP.

“Itutuloy lang po natin ang ating trabaho, mas paiigtingin pa natin ang ating kampanya laban sa kriminalidad. At kahit sinong kapulisan na mai-involve sa krimen ay hindi natin sasantuhin,” Purisima said.

He also thanked President Benigno Aquino III for continued trust in his leadership.

Purisima, however, admitted that he was somewhat getting affected by the allegations, but would remain focused in leading the 140,000-strong PNP.

“Siyempre nai-stress din naman tayo, hindi naman natin masasabi na hindi. But we keep focusing on performing our job. Kasi etong mga ganitong bagay, kasama talaga sa trabaho, sabi nga nila, 'it's lonely up there'. Ibig sabihin, kapag nasa taas ka na, ang lungkot na ng buhay kasi ang daming gustong sumundot sa'yo para malaglag ka sa kinalalagyan mo,” Purisima said. —NB, GMA News

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