Court affirms Purisima’s dismissal
THE - missal from government service of former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima in connection with anomalies surrounding the procurement of a courier service contract.
In a 37-page decision dated May 12 obtained by TheManilaTimes, the CA’s Special 16th Division junked Purisima’s petition for certiorari for lack of merit.
Abuse of Authority, Grave Misconduct, and Serious Dishonesty for entering into an anomalous courier service contract with Werfast Documentary Agency
The appellate court also upheld the penalties imposed against Purisima, which includes dismissal from service with forfeiture of his civil service eligibilities, and perpetual disqualification from entering government service.
CA Associate Justice Ramon Cruz penned the decision, which was concurred in by Associate Justices Marlene Gonzales-Sison and Carmelita Salandanan-Manahan.
The administrative case stemmed from two separate com procuring the courier services of Werfast to facilitate the delivery of PNP gun licenses to gun owners.
Finding Investigation Bureau of - man for the Military and Other - Ricafranca, who complained that Werfast was given an accreditation even before the PNP’s Firearms formal accreditation and despite its failure to meet requirements.
The Ombudsman found, among others, that despite presenting itself as a courier service provider, Werfast, by itself, has no logistical capability. The company had to hire the services of LBC and charged gun owners at a premium rate of P190 for deliveries within Metro Manila and P290 for those outside Metro Manila.
Other courier services only charge P90 for deliveries within Metro Manila.
Moreover, despite previous recommendations that the courier delivery service be made optional, Purisima ordered that the delivery of license cards through courier be made mandatory.
The CA stated that Purisima “… was complicit in making it appear that Werfast Documen courier service provider of PNP and that its appointment as the sole courier service provider of PNP is relation to applications/ - ceeded in accordance with the law, rules and regulations.”