Purisima slams Failon, De Castro, Davila, other ABS-CBN personalities for ‘rabid’ attacks

PNP Chief Allan Purisima

MANILA, Philippines—”Tenacious” and “rabid” were how Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima described Thursday the attacks of his media critics.

The embattled PNP chief said the “personal attacks” on him by Ted Failon, Noli de Castro, Karen Davila and other broadcast journalists from ABS-CBN network influenced the opinion of Senate members, who grilled him about his alleged unexplained wealth.

“Tenacious. Rabid. These are just a couple of words to describe the attacks certain quarters have launched against me,” Purisima said in a press briefing before leaving for Malacañang to attend a meeting.

He blasted the media personalities for their alleged scathing criticisms against him in their television and radio programs in relation to his supposed hidden mansion in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija.

News anchor Failon got a special mention from Purisima in his speech, citing his show “Failon Ngayon” which showed the 4.7 hectare property of the PNP chief in the province he allegedly misdeclared in the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

“All actuations and commentaries thereafter took off from the presentation with annotation by TV-radio personality Ted Failon of an aerial footage of my said property. He described said property as luxurious with several buildings and my house as a mansion, a villa,” he said.

“As such, pati na po ang mga ibang mga sikat na personality, tulad nila Mr. Noli De Castro, Mr. Alvin Elchico, Mr. Vic Lima, Ms. Karen Davila, Mr. Anthony Taberna at Gerry Baja ay panay ang batikos sa bahay ay mansion na rin,” he said.

After the show’s exposé, two separate charges of plunder against Purisima were lodged by groups including Coalition of Filipino Consumers’ Perfecto Tagalog and Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption’s Dante Jimenez.

Based on the complaints the groups filed, they accused Purisima of underdeclaring his properties, saying his house, with a swimming pool, could cost up to P15 million. Some experts interviewed by the media even said that the “mansion” was estimated to cost P50 million.

PNP Director General Alan Purisima’s property in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija. PHOTO from PNP Public Information Office

But Purisima clarified that the market value of his San Leonardo house was only worth between P3 to P4 million. He said his property is an “ordinary house.”

The PNP chief also lamented that the negative publicity on him has influenced the perceptions of the Senators who grilled him during the Senate committee hearing last Tuesday.

“Tuloy, pati ang mga kagalang galang na mga Senador sa hearing namin ang buong paniwala ay mansion ang aking bahay sa Nueve Ecija,” he said.

Aerial shot

In the briefing, Purisima showed pictures of his house and lot, which he said he acquired in 1990.

While showing the photos, Purisima said the aerial shot of his house shown by Failon Ngayon was a “misrepresentation” of his property.

“Ang masama po sa aerial shot, mga kaibigan, ay hindi niyo makikita ang totoong nasa ibaba. Iyan po ang isa pang pagkakamali ng nagpresenta ng property ko,” he explained.

Under those roofs seen in the aerial view of his house, Purisima said these include a garage, a guest house and an old gazebo made of nipa. He said the assessor’s office of Nueva Ecija estimated the gazebo worth P17,890 only while the garage was worth P52,630.

The guest house, which he said was sometimes used as guard house, was assessed to be at P510,420.

PNP Director General Alan Purisima’s property in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija. PHOTO from PNP Public Information Office

Contrary to claims that he has an olympic-size swimming pool, he clarified that it is measured 7.5 meters by 15 meters only.

“This is not even 10 percent of the size of an Olympic swimming pool which is at 50 meters by 215 meters,” he said.

While Failon’s television report said Purisima’s house was secured with high walls, he disproved this and flashed a pictures of low white fences and gates surrounding the property.

“Diyan pa lang po, makikita na malayong malayo maging mansion o villa ang aking bahay.”

Based on the tax declaration on real property in Nueva Ecija, Purisima said the office assessed his property and deemed its market value as P818,269.

But through the years, the value appreciated to P2,337,990, Purisima said.

“Friends and guests, this is the truth behind my house in San Leonardo. It is not a mansion. It is an ordinary house that has been improved over the years,” he added.

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