State prosecutors have opposed the plea of dismissed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima for a three-week travel to the United States.
In its comment opposition filed before the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division, the Office of the Special Prosecutor said Purisima did not indicate his itinerary in the three-week stay in US, warning that his escape from the charges is possible.
READ: Ex-PNP chief Purisima seeks permission for US travel to visit son
“Accused failed to indicate his itinerary during his 22-day visit in the USA as it cannot be gainsaid that he will just be staying at the address indicated in his motion,” the prosecution said.
“It cannot therefore be denied that the probability of accused of not returning to the Philippines is very imminent,” it added.
The prosecution said there is no urgency for Purisima to leave the country and visit his son, noting that he is facing graft charges over the anomalous gun license courier deal when he was PNP chief.
READ: Purisima pleads not guilty to graft in courier service deal
“From the tenor and import of accused’s motion, no urgent or compelling reason can be discerned to justify the grant of judicial imprimatur thereto. Accused has not sufficiently shown that there is absolute necessity for him to travel abroad,” the prosecution said.
The prosecution said the court should deny Purisima’s travel motion to maintain its jurisdiction over the accused as he faces graft trial.
“Wherefore, it is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court to deny the present motion for utter lack of merit,” the prosecution said.
In his travel motion, Purisima asked the court’s permission to visit his son Jason Arvi, who is studying at the Culinary Institute of America at St. Helena in California, from Sept. 5 to 27.
Purisima said his scheduled flight was booked way back March 2016.
“Prior to the filing of the present case, particularly on March 15, 2016, accused Purisima, together with his family, scheduled a flight to the United States of America from September 5 to 27, 2016… Accused Purisima will be staying at 1108 Pintail Drive, Suison City, California USA 94585,” the motion read.
Purisima, a friend of former president Benigno Aquino III, and 16 others were charged with one count of graft for acting allegedly with manifest partiality, evident bad faith and gross inexcusable negligence when they awarded the courier contract to the firm WerFastDocumentary Agency, Inc.
READ: Purisima faces graft over anomalous courier deal
The prosecution said Purisima violated Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act when he gave unwarranted benefit to Werfast.
Purisima entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Werfast and accredited the firm as the PNP’s courier service provider for all the firearms license applications despite its failure to comply with government regulations on courier services.
Purisima and the respondents also approved the delivery by courier of firearms license as a mandatory policy in the PNP.
The prosecution said Werfast failed to seek prior registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and failed to get authority from the Department of Transportation and Communications to operate a delivery service as well as an accreditation from the Department of Science and Technology.
Earlier, the Ombudsman dismissed Purisima, and the others for the administrative offense of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and grave abuse of authority. The officials were forfeited of their retirement benefits and barred from being reemployed in government.
READ: Purisima, Petrasanta, 9 other PNP officers dismissed from service
In ordering the graft charges, the Ombudsman said Purisima entered into a courier service contract with Werfast although the latter had no corporate existence and juridical personality when the PNP entered into a MOA in May 2011.
The Ombudsman found that no public bidding was conducted, and that the MOA was entered into although Werfast lacked the track record as a courier service company.
Besides the Werfast case, the Ombudsman also ordered the filing of graft and usurpation of powers charges against Purisima and sacked Special Action Force (SAF) commander Getulio Napeñas for violating the police chain of command in the botched anti-terror raid “Oplan Exodus” that resulted in the deaths of 44 elite cops in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
READ: Ombudsman orders raps vs Purisima, Napeñas