PNP chief Purisima to answer allegations before Senate panel

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima is expected to finally personally address the allegations of corruption raised against him.

Newly appointed PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Wilben Mayor on Monday said Purisima would attend the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs hearing scheduled on Tuesday.

 

"The chief PNP was invited by senator Grace Poe for the hearing tomorrow, September 30, at the Senate committee on public order that is discussing the PNP organization, and the chief PNP will attend the said hearing," Mayor said. 

 

Mayor said Purisima or his lawyers would answer the issues that will be raised during the hearing against the PNP chief. Mayor said he, as the chief public information officer, would answer questions on the organizational matters of the National Police.

 

It will be the first time that Purisima will be heard after a consumers' rights group filed plunder, graft, and indirect bribery against him last week in connection with his Nueva Ecija property and the renovation of the PNP chief's official residence inside Camp Crame. 

 

The anti-crime group Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) filed a second plunder complaint against Purisima on Monday. VACC also pressed charges for indirect bribery and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Section 8 of Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Condut and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

 

Purisima was out of the country when the allegations against him went out in the media, Mayor said.

"Kung napansin n'yo siguro, lahat ng allegations na ito na lumabas noong wala siya. Andoon siya sa Bogota, Colombia, and sometimes 'yun ang mahirap kasi lumabas yung mga complaint or allegation against sa'yo, you don't have the opportunity to defend dahil wala ka sa lugar na 'yun," Mayor said. 

 

On Sunday night, Purisima arrived in the country after attending the conference but declined to talk about the charges against him. 

 

Mayor also reminded that allegations should be proven in a proper forum. "Allegation is not tantamount to guilt," he said.

 

"Mahirap naman 'yung pag nagsalita 'yung isang tao, i-impress mo agad sa kanya ay may kasalanan agad siya. Bigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang isang tao para magpaliwanag siya ng side niya," Mayor said.

 

When asked if the chief PNP was about to resign, Mayor answered, "That is not true. Wala akong information na naririnig o nasasagap tungkol doon." 

 

Despite the allegations, the spokesperson shared that Purisima was doing okay, "High morale naman siya, okay naman."

 

Honesty teams

 

Mayor also revealed that the PNP has deployed honesty teams to check police officials who are connected with illegal gambling operations or who go to beer houses or other places of ill repute.

"This is part of the anti-corruption campaign of the PNP. Tuloy tuloy 'yun. Actually memorandum 'yan," Mayor said.

 

Re-energizing the honesty teams is also part of the chief PNP's program to "strengthen the integrity development of the PNP against corruption" and to enhance discipline among the police officers.   

 

The movement is also a way to get rid of the "scalawags" in the PNP, Mayor said.  —Trisha Macas/NB, GMA News