MANILA, Philippines – Embattled Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima on Thursday, October 2, hit back against what he called the “tenacious” and “rabid” attacks against him. 

Purisima, who has been PNP chief since December 2012, is accused of corruption and faces at least 3 plunder raps over an alleged shady deal in the PNP, the construction of the PNP chief’s official residence in Camp Crame, and an alleged “under-declared” property in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija. 

Speaking to media for the first time since the second and third plunder raps were filed before the Ombudsman, Purisima denied media reports that described his property in Nueva Ecija as “luxurious.” 

“Malayong maging mansion o villa [ang Nueva Ecija property] (It’s impossible for the property to be a mansion or a villa) ,” said Purisima. (IN PHOTOS: PNP chief’s Nueva Ecija ‘home’)

He added: “Hindi po siya mansion. Ordinaryong bahay lang po na na-improve namin through the years (It’s not a mansion. It’s an ordinary house that we improved through the years).” 

Purisima had made the same assertion at a Senate hearing on September 30. 

Presenting photos of the house and other structures within the compound, Purisima claimed that the “ordinary house” has an area of only 204 square meters. Based on his 2013 Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, the San Leonardo property has a fair market value of P3.75 million. 

Open to public scrutiny

To prove his claims, Purisima expressed willingness to invite media over to his Nueva Ecija home. “Siguro mag-picnic tayo doon. May swimming pool naman, may arowana rin (We can have a picnic there. There’s a swimming pool. There’s an arowana there too),” he quipped. 

Purisima again downplayed the accusations against him, saying these were mounted by people affected by reforms introduced under his term. “Ginagamit nila ngayon para maghiganti (They’re using the issues to get revenge),” he said. 

The PNP chief, however, did not name who in particular were mounting the attacks. “You know more than me,” he told media. 

Purisma last spoke in public at a Senate hearing on the PNP modernization plan on September 30, where senators took turns grilling him on the graft and plunder allegations against him. 

Senator Grace Poe, in an interview with media after the hearing, criticized Purisima for not being totally transparent about his Nueva Ecija property. Poe was referring to a previous media interview wherein Purisima denied he was having a house constructed in Nueva Ecija – but only because the house was already finished. 

Unconvinced by his explanation, Poe reiterated her call for Purisima to go on leave pending the investigation of the allegations against him.

The PNP chief said he was truthful the entire Senate hearing. “Hindi ako nagsinungaling. Kahit kailangan, hindi ako nagsisinungaling (I didn’t lie. I never lie) ” he said. 

Despite the allegations against him, Purisima continues to enjoy the trust and confidence of President Benigno Aquino III. Aquino and Purisima share a long history, dating back to 1987 when Aquino’s mother, the late Corazon Aquino, was president. 

Purisima then was part of the Presidential Security Group tasked to guard the young Aquino. But in the press conference, Purisima downplayed their friendship and called their relationship “professional.” 

The chief evaded questions from media that weren’t about the Nueva Ecija property and left right after speaking, saying he had a meeting at Malacañang Palace. – Rappler.com