Philippine police chief sacked over gun licences

THE Philippines’ anti-graft prosecutor yesterday ordered the national police chief and ten other officers be dismissed for approving a contract to deliver gun licences with a courier company that had no track record.

Police director-general Allan Purisima and the other officers are also being investigated for possible criminal violations of the anti-corruption law, Ombudsman Conchita Carpiomorales said in a statement.

There was no immediate comment from the officers. The officers – who can still appeal the order – had been under suspension for six months without pay since December.

Mr Purisima resigned in early February after 44 police commandos died in an operation that killed one of Asia’s mostwanted terrorism suspects. Mr Purisima was allegedly involved in the operation despite having been suspended from duty.

Despite resigning as national police chief, Mr Purisima still retains his rank, which is an obstacle to replacing him before his official retirement in November.

The Ombudsman’s office said Ms Carpio-morales “found substantial evidence” that Mr Purisima and the others entered into “an anomalous courier service contract” with the Werfast Documentary Agency in 2011 and that he “exerted pressure and coercion” on his subordinates to have the contract approved.

When the national police signed a memorandum of agreement with Werfast in May 2011, the company was not even incorporated. The company paid a “measly capitalisation” of only 65,000 pesos (about £920) when it finally incorporated three months later, the statement said.