© Provided by GMA News Online l AMITA LEGASPI
Kick him upstairs and keep him out of the Philippine National Police.
This was the suggestion of Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago to President Benigno Aquino III on how to deal with PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima, who is facing three plunder and graft complaints over his sprawling property in Nueva Ecija, the renovation of the PNP chief residence in Camp Crame, and an allegedly anomalous deal with a courier service.
"That’s the best way, under the circumstances, to get rid of a suspicious character," Santiago said in her speech during the annual convention of the Philippine Association of Real Estate Boards in Muntinlupa on Friday.
Santiago said the President should instead appoint Purisima as a member of the National Police Commission, or as assistant secretary of either the Interior and Local Government Department or the National Defense, “or to some other position which is incompatible with his present office as PNP chief.”
This was the suggestion of Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago to President Benigno Aquino III on how to deal with PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima, who is facing three plunder and graft complaints over his sprawling property in Nueva Ecija, the renovation of the PNP chief residence in Camp Crame, and an allegedly anomalous deal with a courier service.
"That’s the best way, under the circumstances, to get rid of a suspicious character," Santiago said in her speech during the annual convention of the Philippine Association of Real Estate Boards in Muntinlupa on Friday.
Santiago said the President should instead appoint Purisima as a member of the National Police Commission, or as assistant secretary of either the Interior and Local Government Department or the National Defense, “or to some other position which is incompatible with his present office as PNP chief.”
The senator said if Purisima is transferred to an "incompatible" office, he will automatically vacate his first position and his title will be terminated without any other act or proceeding. She said a position is incompatible if it is improper for one person to retain both offices, such as a judge and clerk of the same court, claimant and auditor, or landlord and tenant.
Last month, while on a working visit in New York, President Aquino had vouched for the good character of Purisima, whom he had known since 1987 when the PNP chief was a member of the security group of his mother, the late President Corazon Aquino.
"Hindi po natin kilala ang taong ito bilang maluho o matakaw," Aquino told reporters.
Purisima has likewise refused to heed calls for him to resign, saying the accusations hurled against him were coming from people who were trying to stop the reforms he had initiated.
Last month, while on a working visit in New York, President Aquino had vouched for the good character of Purisima, whom he had known since 1987 when the PNP chief was a member of the security group of his mother, the late President Corazon Aquino.
"Hindi po natin kilala ang taong ito bilang maluho o matakaw," Aquino told reporters.
Purisima has likewise refused to heed calls for him to resign, saying the accusations hurled against him were coming from people who were trying to stop the reforms he had initiated.
'Direct confession'
During her speech, Santiago enumerated Purisima's alleged offenses:
During her speech, Santiago enumerated Purisima's alleged offenses:
- his supposed involvement in the license delivery deal worth some P100 million;
- accepting donations to build the "White House," the official residence of the PNP chief in Camp Crame;
- buying an SUV worth P3 million in the market for only P1.5 million;
- engaging in a trucking business and poultry farm that are worth P90 million;
- use of a bulletproof Land Cruiser vehicle that is not registered in his name
Santiago said the PNP chief’s admission about the White House donations “is a direct confession and admission to the crime of bribery.”
“Ang lakas ng loob niya. Kung wala lang baril yan eh. There are certain clerks and secretaries who are charged in the Ombudsman for something like P50, P100, P500... ” she said.
She said Purisima is also facing charges for owning in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija — an estate of some five hectares containing a two-story house with separate guest house and separate gazebo, a swimming pool in the middle of landscaped gardens.
Santiago noted that Purisima had argued heatedly that the premises cost only P3.75 million, and said the PNP chief has no defense, except that his alleged political enemies are exaggerating his unexplained wealth.
"Epidermis of pachyderms"
Exaggerated or not, Santiago said the question remains: “Where did he source all that wealth?
“Some people possess the epidermis of pachyderms,” she said, referring not only to the Purisima case but also to the plunder cases filed against three senators in the alleged pork barrel scam, and against Vice President Jejomar Binay and his family over the alleged overpricing in the Makati City Hall Building II.
“This recalls the case of the Communist Party official Bo Xilai, who was convicted of corruption charges. He fought back during a 20-month scandal, but was given a life sentence by a Chinese court for bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power,” Santiago said.
She noted that like Bo, high public officials facing plunder before the Ombudsman launched unusually vigorous defenses, denying all charges, and blaming the corruption on others in their inner circles.
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