Ombudsman probes PNP chief over gun owners’ fees

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Ombudsman probes PNP chief over gun owners’ fees

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Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales convenes a 5-lawyer panel to hear two separate criminal and administrative complaints against the embattled police chief

MANILA, Philippines – The Ombudsman created a panel to investigate charges against Philippine National of Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima over the alleged misuse of gun owners’ courier fees.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales convened on Thursday, October 9, a 5-lawyer panel to determine if there’s enough evidence to file a court case against the embattled police chief.

This comes after the completion of the fact-finding probe by the Ombudsman Fact-Finding Investigation Bureau for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (FFIB-MOLEO).

 

The administrative and criminal complaints against Purisima stem from an alleged anomalous PNP delivery service contract with private company WERFAST Documentary Agency (WERFAST) in 2011.

 

Supposedly aimed at a more effective monitoring of gun ownership in the country, the PNP project Oplan Katok entailed a courier service for the delivery of firearms license cards. WERFAST’s services was contracted for this purpose.

 

Investigation showed that Purisima approved the contracted services of WERFAST without a required accreditation from the PNP Firearms Explosive Office (FEO) and the Department of Science and Technology–Postal Regulation Committee.

 

WERFAST’s questionable track record was further uncovered by the Ombudsman’s fact-finding unit.

 

Red flags including WERFAST’s delayed incorporation, non-payment of taxes from 2011 to 2013, subcontracted logistical services due to incapacity, and a limited paid-up capital of P65,000 also surfaced in the course of the fact-finding investigation.

In the FFIB-MOLEO complaint, 11 other police officials were charged with grave misconduct and serious dishonesty.

 

Purisima also faces multiple charges of plunder, graft, and indirect bribery for allegedly being untruthful in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) and receiving bribes through the “donated” construction of his residence inside the general police headquarters in Quezon City. (READ: PNP chief faces graft, plunder complaint over mansion, ‘White House’)

On October 8, a group also asked the Ombudsman to charge the so-called donors of the infamous “White House” official residence that Purisima ordered built at Camp Crame. (READ: ‘Charge Purisima’s White House donors, too’– Rappler.com

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