Ex-PNP chief Purisima faces perjury raps over alleged SALN omissions

Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima has been slapped with his third case before the Sandiganbayan, this time for his alleged deliberate omission of several properties in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

The Office of the Ombudsman charged Purisima with eight counts of perjury, as defined and penalized under Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code, for his "willful and deliberate assertion of falsehood" in his SALN for 2006 to 2009 and 2011 to 2014.

Purisima allegedly failed to declare a property of his wife, Maria Ramona Lydia Purisima, covered under Certificate of Land Ownership (CLOA) number CA-25916, in his SALN for 2006 and 2007.

Two more properties of Mrs. Purisima — CLOA number VOS-28452 and a property acquired through a deed of donation dated May 12, 2008 — and Purisima's own property under CLOA number VOS-28012 were all also allegedly omitted in the succeeding SALNs.

The former PNP chief then supposedly failed to include a HPRFL BMSTR 223 firearm and an STI 40 pistol in his SALN for 2011. The list also included a CZ 9MM SPO1 Shadow firearm and a HPRFL UDMC 556 in the SALN for 2012 and 2013, respectively.

A total bail bond of P48,000 has been recommended for Purisima's provisional liberty.

Section 8 of the Code of Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees require all government officials to accomplish a sworn SALN disclosing all financial and business interests of their family, including unmarried children under the age of 18 living in the same household, as of December 31 of every year.

Aside from this case, Purisima is facing graft charges over the alleged anomalous courier service deal the PNP entered in 2011.

He is also charged with graft and usurpation of official function in relation to the bloody Mamasapano encounter in 2015 that killed 44 PNP Special Action Force commandos. The Supreme Court, however, issued a temporary restraining order on the case.  —KBK, GMA News