Govt initiates forfeiture of ex-police chief’s assets
Former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima also charged with perjury for not disclosing all assets
The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of a petition before the Sandiganbayan to initiate forfeiture proceedings for the recovery of the unexplained wealth of former Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima and his family amounting to P29.2 million.
In a consolidated resolution dated July 4, 2017, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered that forfeiture proceedings be initiated under Republic Act No. 1379 for the recovery of the unexplained wealth accumulated by respondents Purisima, his wife Ma. Ramona Lydia Purisima, sons Rainier Van Albert, Eumir Von Andrei, Alan Jr. and Jason Arvi.
Likewise, Morales ordered the filing of charges for nine counts of perjury against Purisima for willfully and deliberately failing to disclose all of his properties in his Statement of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) for 2006 to 2014.
In the parallel administrative case, Purisima was found guilty of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and acquisition of unexplained wealth and was ordered dismissed from the service.
In case of separation from the service, the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to the respondent’s salary for one year.
Records show that during his stint at the PNP, Purisima received salaries, allowances and other benefits in the total amount of P9,550,621.44 for 14 years from 2000 to 2014.
His wife, Maria Ramona, received a gross total compensation and other income of P6,382,530.84 as an employee of the AFP Mutual Benefits Association, Inc. for the same period. Their combined lawful earnings amounted to P15,933,152.28 only.
Likewise, Purisima declared business interests and financial connections with RAS Construction from 2000-2006 as partner; I@Link Computer Center from 2002 to 2006 as proprietor; Aliakbar Hauling and Trucking Services from 2008 to 2014; and EALRAJ Corporation, a family owned general merchandising corporation, from 2012 to 2014.
According to Ombudsman investigators, Purisima’s net worth for 2014 was P16,762,948.85.
In the investigation and analysis made by the Ombudsman, Purisima and his family accumulated unexplained acquisitions totaling at least P29,292,459.92.
It was also found that Purisima had other properties and business investments under his name and/ or that of his wife or sons, which he failed to declare in his SALN.
These properties consisted of the following: real properties in Aulo, Palayan City; residential land in Zaragosa, Nueva Ecija; 11 parcels of land in Talisay, Batangas; land in San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur; and personal properties consisting of firearms acquired from 2010 to 2014.
Records from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) showed that Purisima made frequent travels abroad from 2001 to 2014.
He has a record of 19 foreign trips, 12 of which were official in nature, while seven of his foreign trips “were financed from private funds.”
Respondent Ramona had 19 travels abroad; Rainier, 10; Eumir, four; Alan Jr., five; and Jayson, seven.
The Ombudsman said that “said travels show that they lived a lavish lifestyle which is not commensurate with their declared earnings and financial resources.”