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PNP chief Purisima on Nueva Ecija property: No mansion, just an ordinary house
(Updated 3:22 p.m.) Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima on Thursday defended his P3.7 million property in Nueva Ecija, insisting that there were no irregularities in its purchase.
"Hindi po siya mansyon. Ordinaryong bahay lang po na siyang in-improve namin over the years," Purisima told a news conference which was aired over radio dzBB.
At a previous Senate inquiry, Purisima had admitted that he owns a 4.7-hectare property in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija.
At the same press briefing, Purisima thanked President Benigno Aquino III "para sa tiwala nito sa kabila ng mga kontrobersyang kanyang kinakaharap."
In defending the embattled PNP chief last week, Aquino told reporters in New York that it was "out of character for Purisima to live in luxury."
"Hindi po natin kilala ang taong ito [Purisima] bilang maluho o matakaw," Aquino said.
On Wednesday, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda still had the moral ascendancy to lead the National Police organization. "One could see candor there. Whether you would agree or not with that assessment, with those responses, we have to hand it to General Purisima that he answered all those questions truthfully."
In defending the embattled PNP chief last week, Aquino told reporters in New York that it was "out of character for Purisima to live in luxury."
"Hindi po natin kilala ang taong ito [Purisima] bilang maluho o matakaw," Aquino said.
On Wednesday, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda still had the moral ascendancy to lead the National Police organization. "One could see candor there. Whether you would agree or not with that assessment, with those responses, we have to hand it to General Purisima that he answered all those questions truthfully."
Plunder, graft charges
Earlier in September, a consumers' rights group filed plunder, bribery and graft charges against Purisima in connection with the 'mansion' in Nueva Ecija and the renovation of the PNP chief's official quarters inside Camp Crame.
An undated photo provided by the Philippine National Police shows the controversial house of PNP chief Dir. Gen. Alan Purisima in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija. PNP-PIO
According to Purisima's Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) in 2012 and 2013, the Nueva Ecija property located in San Leonardo town was acquired for P1.2 million in 2002. Its present market value is at P3.75 million.
"Nakakamangha po 'yong property po doon [sa Nueva Ecija]. That is the reason why we opened this... Base nga po sa isang kausap kong arkitekto, baka bakod lang po ang P3.7 million," said Perfecto Jaime Tagalog, secretary-general of the Coalition of Filipino Consumers.
The group filed the charges before the Office of the Ombudsman on September 22. It called on President Benigno Aquino III and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II to remove Purisima from his influential post.
Purisima has since refused to resign from his post, claiming the allegations against him were from those who are against the reforms he has initiated in the PNP. — Amanda Fernandez/RSJ, GMA News
Purisima has since refused to resign from his post, claiming the allegations against him were from those who are against the reforms he has initiated in the PNP. — Amanda Fernandez/RSJ, GMA News
