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P1.5M only? Grace Poe questions Purisima’s huge discount on Land Cruiser


Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday quizzed Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima’s purchase of a Land Cruiser for only P1.5 million.
 
During the hearing of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, Poe said a Land Cruiser normally costs P4 million to P7 million.
 
Purisima said he got the vehicle for a lower price because he bought it directly from a dealer in San Fernando, Pampanga who gave him a big discount.
 
“Di ko sinasabing kasalanan niyo pero ang diskwentong ganyang kalaki kasi ang halaga niyang P6M-P7M tapos nabenta sa inyo ng P1.5M lang, iisipin niyo bakit nabenta sa akin?” Poe said.
 
She asked Purisima if the dealer has a contract with the PNP, to which the national police chief replied in the negative.
 
“Wala naman po. Yung [sasakyan]  po ay Land Cruiser na Prado,” he said.
 
“So Prado ito, kung sabihin nating P4 million ito, malaki pa rin ang diskwento, inuulit ko lang kasi ito(ng SALN) ay public document para masuri ang kayamanan ng ating kawani ng gobyerno,” Poe said.
 
The senator also questioned Purisima on his house and lot in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija.
 
Purisima said he acquired the land in 1998 and he initially paid P150,000 for it. Poe asked why the acquisition year stated in Purisima’s SALN was 2002. The PNP chief it was only in 2002 when the construction of the house started.
 
Purisima said he shelled out P3.2 million for construction of the house. He said he used his salary as a police official and  the income of his family for the construction.
 
He said as PNP chief he is receiving a monthly salary of P107,000. His wife is a treasury examiner for an insurance company of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. They also have a trucking business.
 
“Pakonti-konti ang construction niyan, may mga savings kami, yan ang ginagamit namin,” he said.
 
Poe asked Purisima to have his property re-assessed as it is stated in his SALN that it is worth only P3.75 million when some say it is actually worth P50 million.
 
“Siguro dapat pag-aralan ninyo na ipa-reassess ninyo dahil may lumulutang na halaga na P50 million ito at kung sasagot kayo sa Ombudsman ay itatanong din naman sa inyo ito,” the senator said.

Inconsistent

Poe on Tuesday found Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima inconsistent in answering the questions of the senators.
 
“It is the inconsistency of some of your answers that gave way to suspicion of many,” Poe said before adjourning the hearing of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs.
 
“There should be more forthrightness on your part but at least we have your answers on record,” she added.
 
She added that Purisima should answer the questions directly instead of relying on his spokespersons to speak for him.
 
Poe insisted that the PNP chief’s acceptance of donation for the renovation of the PNP quarters and for his vehicle were inappropriate. —NB, GMA News

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