Former PNP chief arrested Friday

Purisima, a known friend of President Benigno S. Aquino III, was brought to Sandiganbayan following his arrest. (Photo courtesy of Sen. Grace Poe’s Facebook page)

MANILA—Dismissed Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima was arrested Friday afternoon at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport) Terminal 3 upon his arrival from a provincial trip.

PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) agents carried out the arrest on Purisima.

Anti-graft court Sandiganbayan has ordered the arrest of Purisima, along with five other former police officials and five private individuals, in relation to alleged anomalous courier service deal that the PNP entered into in 2011 during his stint as PNP chief.

The Sandiganbayan 6th Division found probable cause on the charges filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Purisima, a known friend of President Benigno S. Aquino III, was brought to Sandiganbayan following his arrest. He posted a Php30,000 bail for his provisional liberty.

The Office of the Ombudsman recently issued a 50-page consolidated decision against Purisima and other PNP officials as it found substantial evidence to hold the accused for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and grave abuse of authority.

Aside from dismissal, the Ombudsman also imposed the accessory penalties of forfeiture of retirement benefits, cancellation of eligibility, bar from taking civil service examinations and perpetual disqualification from re-employment in government service.

The other officials ordered dismissed by the Ombudsman were: Chief Superintendent Napoleon Estilles, Senior Superintendent Allan Parreno, Senior Superintendent Eduardo Acierto, Senior Superintendent Melchor Reyes, Superintendent Lenbell Fabia, Chief Inspector Sonia Calixto, Chief Inspector Nelson Bautista, Chief Inspector Ricardo Zapata Jr. and Senior Inspector Ford Tuazon.

The case stemmed from two separate complaints filed in 2014 by private citizen Glenn Gerard Ricafranca and the fact-finding investigation bureau of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (FFIB-MOLEO) regarding the engagement and accreditation of Werfast as the provider of courier services for renewed firearms licenses.