Ex-PNP chief Purisima seeks dismissal of graft raps over courier service mess

Former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima has sought the outright dismissal of his graft case over the allegedly anomalous courier service deal the PNP entered into under his leadership.

Purisima submitted a motion for leave to file demurrer to evidence at the Sixth Division on March 11 assailing the sufficiency of charges against him. He already attached the demurrer in the motion.

Purisima faces one count of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act when he signed a memorandum of agreement with Werfast Documentary Agency, Inc. for a computerized system on the renewal of firearms licenses in 2011.

The prosecution had said the contract was awarded to Werfast without public bidding and despite the company’s supposed lack of track record and qualifications as a courier service firm.

Werfast was also not yet registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission when the contract was signed in May 2011 and had no authority from the then-Department of Transportation and Communications to offer courier delivery service.

However, Purisima said the Ombudsman prosecutors handling the case failed to prove his supposed involvement in the crafting of the MOA nor his signature in the document.

Purisima emphasized the proposal for the delivery of firearm licenses stemmed from his predecessor Raul Bacalzo, saying he only became PNP director general in December 2012.

"Accused Purisima cannot be considered to have acted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence as there is no evidence that will link him in the drafting, execution and approval of the MOA between Werfast and the PNP," Purisima, through his lawyers, said.

Purisima said the only evidence the prosecution had against him was his approval on the mandatory delivery of firearm licenses using the service of Werfast, which he claimed to be in good faith.

"Accused Purisima had no participation in such irregularities as he was not part of the group that accredited Werfast. In fact, the prosecution failed to present any evidence that would show that accused Purisima participated in any stage of the accreditation process," he said.

Purisima also sought to challenge his perjury case at the Sandiganbayan over his alleged omission of properties in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). 

He has another pending case in connection with the 2015 Mamasapano encounter that killed 44 members of the PNP Special Action Force, but the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order. —NB, GMA News