Purisima admits media tour of Ecija home hurts but is necessary
PNP Director General Chief Alan Purisima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/EDWIN BACASMAS
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima admitted he was “hurt” by the media tour at his controversial house in Nueva Ecija town.
Cornered by the media at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the Cebu Provincial Capitol, Purisima, who had been trying to avoid talking to reporters as he attended official events in the city, said the media tour at his house was nevertheless necessary to clarify issues about his personal wealth.
“Medyo masakit po yun pero it’s normal na kailangan talaga ipakita para malinawan ang lahat (It’s a bit painful but it’s understandable that the house needs to be shown to the public to enlighten everyone),” Purisima said.
The PNP chief did not elaborate on his statement. Purisima’s critics have accused him of building a mansion in Nueva Ecija and failing to declare it in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth. By opening his Nueva Ecija residence to reporters, Purisima apparently wanted to show that his house was not a mansion at all.
The PNP chief has been staying in Cebu since Monday, attending several civic activities together with the members of the Freemasonry in Cebu.
His visit here coincided with the guided media tour of his Nueva Ecija house.
He is facing graft and plunder charges over the allegedly anomalous renovation of the “White House” in Camp Crame, the official quarters of the PNP chief, and his property in Nueva Ecija, which was said to have not been declared accurately in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.
Purisima was at the Capitol on Tuesday, accompanied by Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Prudencio Bañas for the signing of a deed of donation over the land that the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) has been occupying in Barangay Lahug in this city.
The Cebu provincial government donated the property to the CPPO.
After the signing, Purisima immediately left.
During his first day in Cebu on Monday, he did not grant media interviews.
He led the distribution of rice packs to the victims of the fire that hit barangay Barrio Luz here.
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