In a post on his Twitter account Friday, Purisima said: “We respect the recommendation of Sen. Poe and we will answer charges once required by the Ombudsman to do so,” he said.
“Since news report has said that Senate resolution will be referred to Ombudsman, then I will answer issues to be raised by Ombudsman,” Purisima added.
On the same day Purisima tweeted his statement, the Senate panel on public order and dangerous drugs urged the Office of the Ombudsman in its report to expedite the resolution of the complaints filed against the PNP chief.
Poe, who heads the Senate panel, earlier said she would recommend to the Ombudsman to look into how the PNP chief obtained his wealth, noting there were “certain questions” Purisima needs to answer regarding his Statement of Asset, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
Purisima is facing graft and plunder charges over his supposed mansion in Nueva Ecija and the renovation of the “White House,” the PNP chief’s official quarters inside the police’s main headquarters in Camp Crame.
Last September, the Ombudsman created a panel to probe Purisima over a supposed anomalous contract the PNP entered into with a courier service in 2011.
Despite the allegations of corruption hounding Purisima, PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Wilben Mayor said Sunday the police force remains focused on its duty to protect the public.
“Tuluy-tuloy lang ang aming trabaho para magserbisyo sa aming mamamayan at hindi kami magpapa-distract doon sa mga issues na nare-raise against sa Chief ng Philippine National Police,” he said in an interview aired on “Balitanghali.”
Echoing Purisima’s statement, Mayor said the PNP respects the Senate panel’s recommendation to the Office of the Ombudsman.
When asked how the controversy surrounding Purisima has affected the police force, Mayor said the PNP’s morale remains high.
“Maayos at mataas ang morale ng ating kapulisan. Sa ngayon ang focus natin ay magbantay sa ating mga kababayan na alam natin ay nasa mga lugar kung saan [nila] ginugunita ang Undas [habang yung iba] ay pauwi na sa kani-kanilang mga tahanan mula sa probinsya,” he said. — Xianne Arcangel/BM, GMA News
