Poe on Purisima’s Dismissal: ‘Let’s Respect Decision of Ombudsman’

(PNA) – Senator Grace Poe has called for a respect in the decision of the Ombudsman to dismiss former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and 10 other police officials for entering into an anomalous contract with courier service Werfast Documentary Agency (Werfast) in 2011.

”We have to respect the decision of Ombudsman. They have been tasked by the Constitution to investigate evidences and impose proper punishment for the public servants who violate Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” Poe said in a press statement on Tuesday night.

Poe said it is now high time for President Benigno Aquino III to appoint a PNP chief who will signify honest and good leadership and will give orderly and inspiration to the national police.

In a 50-page consolidated decision, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales found substantial evidence to hold Purisima liable for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and grave abuse of authority.

Aside from dismissal from the service, other penalties include forfeiture of retirement benefits, cancellation of eligibility, bar from taking civil service examinations, and perpetual disqualification from re­employment in government service.

The Ombudsman also found substantial evidence to dismiss PNP Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) Police Chief Superintendents Raul Petrasanta and Napoleon Estilles; Senior Superintendents Allan Parreño, Eduardo Acierto and Melchor Reyes; Supt. Lenbell Fabia; Chief Inspectors Sonia Calixto, Nelson Bautista, and Ricardo Zapata Jr.; and, Sr. Insp. Ford Tuazon.

Poe is the chairperson of the Senate committee on public order that investigated the Mamasapano incident along with committees on peace, unification, and reconciliation, and finance.

The three committees held five public hearings and several executive sessions before Poe came out with the committee report last March 17.

Purisima resigned as PNP chief at the height of the Senate investigation on the Mamasapano incident that killed 44 PNP Special Action Force (SAF) members on Jan. 25 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Despite serving suspension order, Purisima was accused of having a hand in the planning of the Oplan Exodus aimed at arresting international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Filipino companion Abdul Basit Usman.

Marwan, a Malaysian bomb expert who allegedly behind the Bali bombings and other terrorist attacks, was killed in the operation while Usman escaped but later killed in a military operation through the assistance of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. (PNA) RMA/JFM