Sandigan clears ex-PNP chief of perjury

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan yesterday acquitted former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima of perjury charges in connection with his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

The anti-graft court’s Second Division said the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence on the eight counts of perjury against Purisima, which refer to his alleged failure to disclose various properties in his SALNs.

Earlier, the court denied Purisima’s motion for leave to file a demurrer to evidence, which would have allowed him to seek the dismissal of his cases halfway through the trial based solely on the supposed weak evidence of the prosecution.

The Second Division said Purisima failed to state in his motion for leave the legal grounds for asking to be allowed to file a demurrer to evidence.

Purisima allegedly failed to declare in his SALNs for 2006 to 2009 and for 2011 to 2014 his and his wife Maria Ramona Lydia’s ownership of several parcels of land in Zaragosa and Palayan City in Nueva Ecija and in San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur as well as his ownership of four firearms.

Purisima was dismissed in 2015 by the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly committing graft over an anomalous P100-million contract for the delivery of gun licenses in 2011.

He also figured in a botched operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015 that resulted in the deaths of 44 Special Action Force commandos.