Beleaguered Director General Alan Purisima of the graft ridden Philippine National Police (PNP) has no other option but to resign to restore the people’s trust in the police force.
The PNP, which has been plagued with bribery for years, have been facing widespread criticism from all sectors of society because of inefficiency and unabated corrupt practices in all levels.
General Purisima, a very close friend of President Noynoy, is facing three plunder charges before the Office of the Ombudsman. The PNP Chief is accused of accumulating unexplained wealth after the discovery of his huge mansion constructed in the middle of a 47-hectare lot in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija.
During a recent Senate inquiry, Purisima failed to explain to Senators Grace Poe and Segio Osmeña III how he was able to acquire expensive vehicles worth millions of pesos, prompting the legislators to say that the PNP chief was “lying through his teeth.”
He is also being accused of receiving donations from his “friends” for the renovation of his so called “white house,” the official residence of the PNP chief inside Camp Crame. The cost of the construction is P11 million.
President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima during the 34th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Chiefs of Police (ASEANAPOL) Conference at the Luzon Ballroom of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City on Tuesday (May 13, 2014). (MNS photo)
Despite a strong public clamor for him to step down, Purisima was quoted recently as saying that he has no option to “pack his bags” and quit. He said he is not thinking of going on leave either while the case against him is being investigated.
Purisima is claiming that he is a target of a demolition job by certain groups who want to have a firm grip in the police force. It is common knowledge in Camp Crame that Purisima is not in good terms with DILG Secretary Mar Roxas. It is said that they often clash when it comes to promotions and plans on how to upgrade the country’ police force.
As far as his controversial 4.7 hectare property in Nueva Ecija, he claimed that he bought it for a bargain price of P150,000 while he was still a provincial police director. On his expensive vehicles, particularly the luxury Toyota Prado SUV, he said he bought it for only P1.5 million because of a huge discount he got from a car dealership based in San Fernando, Pampanga.
His decision to remain in his post despite widespread calls for his resignation is anchored on the premise that President Noynoy will back him up “all the way.” A recent statement from Malacañang stated that the President has complete trust and confidence on Purisima’s integrity.
However, some decent officers of the PNP are one in saying that Purisima should quit if only to save the tarnished image of the PNP from further embarrassment. They added that Purisima has lost his moral ascendancy to head the 150,000 strong police force.
The statement is true. He lost all sense of decency, honesty and integrity as a police officer by accepting gifts worth millions of pesos, such as huge discounts for an expensive vehicle and his sprawling lot and mansion in Nueva Ecija.
In his 30 years of service in the police force, he has survived so many controversies. Purisima is one of the most trusted men of former PNP Director General Hermogenes Ebdane. But even Ebdane was linked to the so called ballot box switching in the 2004 presidential elections. A provincial police director based in Zambales admitted that he and his men took part in the ballot boxes switching at the Batasan Pambansa building during the 2004 presidential elections. He claimed that they did they “switching” operations on orders of the then PNP Director General Hermogenes Ebdane. He further claimed they were ordered to replace the original election returns kept at the Batasan Pambansa with manufactured tallies brought in by Ebdane. He, however, did not directly link Purisima in the “ballot box switching.”
It should be recalled that Purisima was also relieved of his command as police director in Pangasinan after the reported continued operations of “jueteng” in the province. Surprisingly, after several months, he was reinstated in his former assignment.
General Purisima is the second PNP Chief to be charged with graft and malversation. Retired PNP Director General Avelino “Sonny” Razon Jr., who is now in detention, is also facing graft and malversation charges in connection with the alleged bogus repairs and maintenance of 28 police armored vehicles during his tenure in the force. General Razon and 32 other police officers and civilians were involved in the anomalous bogus repairs of armored vehicles. The cost of the reported repairs done from 2007 to 2008 was a whopping P358.88 million.
Another PNP General is also awaiting trial for graft and technical malversation of public funds. General Eliseo De La Paz, his wife and nine other PNP officials are facing criminal charges before the Sandiganbayan.
In 2009, General De La Paz and his wife were arrested by the police and prevented from departing from Sheremetyevo International airport in Moscow after they were caught carrying 105,000 Euros (P6.8 million) in cash that was way above the limit that can be carried out of the country. Both he and his wife were on their way back to the Philippines when they were apprehended by airport police. De La Paz and all co accused are currently facing five counts of graft and three counts of illegal use of public funds.
These cops sure have a way of getting so much cash on their hands, whether they were stolen, given as “gifts” by friends or through huge discounts on purchases, is something that needs to be dealt with. Question is, who can police the police?