Purisima ordered probed over ‘anomalous’ deal with courier firm
MANILA, Philippines—Director General Alan Purisima and several others are facing investigation by the Ombudsman for entering into an allegedly anomalous courier service contract.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales Thursday ordered the conduct of formal criminal and administrative investigation of Purisima et al.
The case involved the courier service contract with Werfast Documentary Agency (Werfast) in 2011.
The formal investigation to be handled by a five-man panel was recommended by the Ombudsman’s Fact-Finding Investigation Bureau of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (FFIB-MOLEO).
FFIB-MOLEO also sought for the suspension of Purisima and the other PNP officials.
Purisima is facing a case for Gross Negligence/Gross Neglect of Duty, while those facing a case for Grave Misconduct and Serious Dishonesty are Police Director Gil Meneses, former chief of the Civil Security Group (CSG), along with former officials of the Firearms Explosive Office (FEO), namely:
– Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta,
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales. FILE PHOTO
– Senior Superintendent Napoleon Estilles,
– Senior Superintendent Allan Parreno,
– Senior Superintendent Eduardo Acierto,
-Senior Superintendent Melchor Reyes,
– Superintendent Lenbell Fabia,
– Chief Inspector Sonia Calixto,
– Chief Inspector Nelson Bautista,
-Chief Inspector Ricardo Zapata
-Senior Inspector Ford Tuazon
In addition, Meneses, Petrasanta, Parreno, Acierto, Reyes, Fabia, Calixto, Bautista, Tuazon, Zapata, Estilles and WERFAST representatives Mario Juan, Salud Bautista, Enrique Valerio, Ireno Bacolod, Lorna Perena, Juliana Pasia and Marilyn Chua face a separate criminal charge of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The case stemmed from an anonymous complaint where Purisima and the other officials allegedly siphoned off funds from the mandatory delivery fees paid by gun owners in securing their gun licenses, through the PNP entering into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with WERFAST for courier services in the delivery of firearms license cards.
The MOA dated May 25, 2011 was a result of Oplan Katok aimed at creating a more effective system of monitoring legitimate gun owners.
Documents disclosed that the CSG, through Meneses, approved the accreditation of WERFAST before the company had undergone any accreditation from the FEO Accreditation Committee.
Despite this, on Feb. 12, 2013, Purisima approved the Memorandum issued by Meneses recommending the enforcement of the delivery of approved firearms license cards to the accredited courier service provider. It was only on 01 April 2013 that the FEO through Petrasanta, Parreno, Acierto, Reyes, Fabia, Calixto, Bautista, Tuazon and Zapata issued a Resolution accrediting WERFAST.
Fact-finding investigation showed that WERFAST was incorporated after the execution of the MOA, with a capitalization of only P65,000.00 and despite having failed to meet the requirements for accreditation such as the submission of a clearance from the PNP Directorate for Intelligence.
Records from the Bureau of Internal Revenue also revealed that WERFAST did not pay any taxes from 2011 to 2013. As per records of the Department of Science and Technology – Postal Regulation Committee, WERFAST is not accredited to engage in courier services in the country. Moreover, there were no records to show that WERFAST established an online facility for applications for renewal of firearms license.
The Ombudsman’s fact-finding bureau said due to lack of logistical capability, WERFAST engaged the services of LBC for deliveries. It collected P190.00 for deliveries within Metro Manila and P290 outside of Metro Manila, when other courier services providers charge only P90.00 within Metro Manila. Based on FEO records, 90,455 firearms license cards were issued for delivery from March 2013 to March 2014.
The five-lawyer special panel shall also hear the related Complaint-Affidavit separately filed by private citizen Glenn Gerard Ricafranca against Purisima, Estilles and WERFAST officials for Plunder, violation of Section 3(e) and (j) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act.
Ricafranca also administratively charges Purisima and Estilles with Grave Abuse of Authority and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
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