PNP chief faces raps for snubbing House probe

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima is facing contempt charges for his continued absence in the hearings of the House of Representatives on controversies hounding the PNP, a group said Thursday.

The group Peaceful Responsible Owners of Guns Inc. (PRO-Gun), which is questioning the PNP’s new gun licensing scheme before the Supreme Court, said the threat to cite Purisima was issued by Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas. 

Quoting the lawmaker, PRO-Gun secretary general Ernesto Tabujara said the PNP’s continued neglect to attend hearings shows an utter disrespect for the House. 

The House committee on good government and public accountability, chaired by Rep. Oscar Rodriguez, is conducting an investigation of the “alleged anomalous transactions involving high-ranking officials of the PNP.” 

The probe focuses on 900 high-powered missing rifles that were later found in the hands of insurgents and the anomalies involving Werfast Documentary Agency, a courier service that was engaged by the PNP to deliver approved firearms licenses to their holders. 

“He (Rep. Fariñas) was really angry. The PNP officials were asked why Gen. Purisima wasn’t around. He said it was disrespect to Congress,” said Tabujara, who was in the hearing last Tuesday. 

“General Purisima would be summoned in the next hearing. If he will still not show up, then he would be cited for contempt by Fariñas,” he added. 

Also tackled in the hearing was the PNP’s new firearms licensing policy, particularly the centralization of gun licensing in Camp Crame, Quezon City; the difficulty in obtaining permits to carry guns; the administrative fund-raising contained in the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 10591, as well as all other questionable provisions of the IRR.

Lawmakers present during the hearing, including Silvestre Bello of 1-BAP party-list and Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro’s second district, took turns in hurling angry complaints at PNP officials led by Civil Security Group head Gen. Mel Mabilin and Gen. Moro Lazo, chief of the Firearms and Explosives Office.