Antigraft court allows Purisima to travel to US to visit son
Former national police chief Alan Purisima. RAFFY LERMA/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The Sandiganbayan allowed dismissed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima to travel to the United States to visit his son while he faces a graft charge over an anomalous gun courier deal.
In a resolution, the anti-graft court Sixth Division said it is authorizing Purisima to travel abroad now that he has paid a travel bond of P30,000.
The court said Purisima should leave for the US not earlier than Sept. 5 and return not later than Sept. 27 and comply with his itinerary.
The court also ordered him to present himself in person to the clerk of court and present his passport five days after his return.
“Considering the posting of the required travel bond of P30,000… the Court finally authorizes him to travel to the United States of America from Sept. 5 to Sept. 27, 2016,” the court said.
Article continues after this advertisementThe court said material misrepresentation by the accused could make him liable for contempt.
Article continues after this advertisementIn his travel motion, Purisima asked the court’s approval for him to go abroad to visit his son Jason Arvi, who is studying in California.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor opposed the move, saying there is no necessity for Purisima to go abroad as he faces graft.
READ: State lawyers oppose Purisima travel bid
Purisima cited Filipino family values in insisting that he be allowed to travel for the family to be complete after he had long been gone due to his years in government service.
READ: Purisima pleads Sandigan to allow him to visit son in US
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 WerFast Documentary 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 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./rga
