Former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima has been allowed by the Sandiganbayan to travel to Taipei, Taiwan for four days with his family pending the resolution of the graft and perjury cases filed against him.
The anti-graft court’s Sixth Division dated May 27 granted Purisima’s motion “over the objection of the prosecution.”
The court’s Second Division granted the same motion of Purisima but the justices have yet to sign the travel authority submitted by Purisima.
Purisima said he intended to travel to Taipei from June 16 to 20 with his family for “personal reasons.”
The anti-graft court’s Sixth Division said there was probable cause to try Purisima for graft and justifiable reasons to order his arrest as well as the arrest of his co-accused.
Purisima’s case arose after he tapped Werfast Documentary Agency Inc. as the Philippine National Police’s courier service provider for all firearms license applications despite its failure to comply with government regulations.
The Ombudsman cited Werfast’s failure to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission and to obtain authority from the Department of Transportation and Communications to operate a delivery service and to seek accreditation from the Department of Science and Technology in 2011.
Meanwhile, Purisima was charged with perjury at the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division in connection with his alleged non-declaration of some of his properties in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth for eight years.
Purisima is facing eight counts of perjury at the anti-graft court division.
The Ombudsman said Purisima violated Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code, for not being truthful in his declarations of his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth for 2006 to 2009 and 2011 to 2014.
Prosecutors said Purisima failed to declare the property of his wife, Maria Ramona Lydia Purisima, covered by Certificate of Land Ownership CA-25916, in his SALNs for 2006 and 2007.
In 2008, the number of undeclared properties of Purisima’s wife was increased to three: properties covered by CLOA VOS-28452 and a deed of donation dated May 12, 2008.
In his 2009 SALN, Purisima also did not declare another property covered by CLOA VOS-28012. Similarly, in 2011, Purisima was accused of not declaring two firearms in his SALN: A Bushamaster assault rifle and an STI .40-cal. pistol.
Prosecutors said a CZ 9MM SPO1 Shadow pistol and a UDMC .556 rifle were added to the list of assets concealed from the 2012 and 2013 SALNs, respectively.
In his 2014 SALN, Purisima and his wife also did not declare their four real estate properties.