Malacanang still awaiting copy of Ombudsman’s decision on Gen. Purisima, et al

Resigned PNP Chief Gen. Alan Purisima at Thursday’s (Feb 12, 2015) Senate hearing on the Mamasapano clash (Photo courtesy of Sen. Grace Poe’s Facebook page)

MANILA — A Palace official declined to comment on the Office of the Ombudsman’s decision to dismiss from government service police officers, including resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police Director General Alan Purisima, for a questionable gun license delivery deal.

“We will await the official copy of the Resolution from the Office of the Ombudsman for us to be able to properly address this matter,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in a text message.

The Ombudsman’s decision Tuesday was made based on the cases filed against Purisima and 10 others regarding the alleged anomalous deal entered into by the national police’s Civil Security Group (CSG) and the Firearms and Explosive Office (FEO) with courier company, Werfast.

The cases were separately filed by one Glenn Gerard Ricafranca and the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices’ Fact-finding Investigation Bureau in 2014.

The other police officials who were dismissed from service were former Central Luzon police chief C/Supt. Raul Petrasanta, C/Supt. Napoleon Estilles, S/Supt. Allan Parreno, S/Supt. Eduardo Acierto, S/Supt. Melchor Reyes, Supt. Lenbell Fabia, C/Insp. Sonia Calixto, C/Insp. Nelson Bautista, C/Insp. Ricardo Zapata Jr., and S/Insp. Ford Tuazon.

Their retirement benefits were ordered forfeited and they were barred from taking civil service examinations. They were also disqualified from government service.

The cases against these police officers were filed after Ricafranca, a resident of Barangay Capantawan, Legazpi City, discovered the questionable deal between PNP’s FEO and Werfast while checking the process for firearm registration in March 2014.

Also, gun owners have complained of late delivery and even non-delivery of their gun licenses.

It was later found out that among the officials of Werfast was Ireno Bacolod, a former chief of the PNP’s Civil Security Group (CSG), which has the responsibility over FEO.