Ex-PNP chief Purisima to face graft charges over courier deal

Former PNP chief Alan Purisima
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the filing of graft charges against dismissed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima over an anomalous courier deal in 2011.

In a. statement on Friday, Morales said she denied the motions for reconsideration filed by Purisima, a close friend of President Benigno Aquino III, and the other respondents appealing the criminal indictment and thus affirmed the finding of probable cause against them.

Also ordered charged before the Sandiganbayan are Police Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta, a former official of Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) and Central Luzon police director, retired Police Director Gil Meneses, and the following former FEO officials: Chief Superintendent Napoleon Estilles, Senior Superintendent Allan Parreño, Senior Supt. Eduardo Acierto, Senior Supt. Melchor Reyes, Supt. Lenbell Fabia, Chief Inspector Sonia Calixto, Chief Inspector Nelson Bautista, Chief Inspector Ricardo Zapata Jr., Senior Inspector Ford Tuazon.

Also ordered charged are the supposed incorporators of the shady courier service company WerFast Documentary Agency, Inc. – Mario Juan, Salud Bautista, Enrique Valerio, Lorna Perena and Juliana Pasia.

Petrasanta had been eyed as the next police chief but the post later went to now Director General Ricardo Marquez.

Earlier, the Ombudsman  dismissed Purisima, Petrasanta and the others for the administrative offense of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and grave abuse of authority. The officials were thus forfeited  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 Documentary Agency, Inc. even though the latter had no corporate existence and juridical personality when the PNP entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) in May 2011.

The Ombudsman found that no public bidding was conducted, and that the MOA was entered into even though Werfast lacked the track record as a courier service company.

Purisima and the officials also admitted that the accreditation documents from Werfast were incomplete and met only the minimum requirements. The respondents also gave absolute credence to the company’s representative that it has a joint venture with CMIT Consultancy Group, Inc. and PHILREM.

The Ombudsman’s investigation also showed that WerFast engaged the services of LBC that cost P190 for deliveries within Metro Manila and P290 outside, while the other courier service providers only charge P90 within Manila.

In her order, Morales said “the document trail – from the execution of the MOA to the issuance of an accreditation policy, subsequent mandatory imposition of courier service fee deliveries, until accreditation of WERFAST – reveals measures undertaken to mask a long line of violations.”

Purisima and the others stand accused of violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits public officials from causing any undue injury to any party, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.

Petrasanta already faces a separate graft trial before the Sandiganbayan over the missing AK-47 assault rifles allegedly sold to communist rebels.

READ: Aquino’s pal Petrasanta, cops face arrest over AK-47 deal 

The Ombudsman had also found probable cause to charge Purisima and sacked Special Action Force (SAF) commander Getulio Napenas for graft and usurpation of powers 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. CDG

READ: Ombudsman: Napeñas, Purisima liable for Mamasapano carnage