MANILA, Philippines - The lawyer of resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police Director General Alan Purisima on Tuesday insisted that his client did not perform any official duties or functions while suspended.
"At no time since his preventive suspension did PDG Purisima perform official duties and functions. Neither did he misrepresent or falsely represent himself as the chief PNP under pretense of official position," lawyer Kristoffer James Purisima said in a text message.
Purisima's lawyer reacted to the statements made by Sen. Grace Poe who presented to the media the Senate committee report on the Mamasapano incident.
During a media conference, the senator categorically said that Purisima had committed usurpation of authority.
Prior to the Mamasapano incident last January 25, the Office of the Ombudsman suspended Purisima pending the proceedings on the plunder and graft charges against him.
Purisima's legal counsel noted that the Operation Exodus or the plan to capture high value targets Marwan and Basit Usman was based on the police organization's mandate and on the strength of a warrants of arrest.
He said that the enforcement of arrest warrants does not need President Aquino's approval.
"Following their logic, then even the judge who issued the arrest warrant could be made liable," he said.