Former National Police chief Alan Purisima has been acquitted of perjury charges in connection with the alleged false statements and omissions he committed in the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth he submitted.
On Friday, the anti-graft court’s Second Division dismissed the eight counts of perjury in connection with the SALNs he filed from 2006 to 2009, and from 2011 to 2014.
Purisima was acquitted despite the denial of his demurrer to evidence filed in April 2019.
A demurrer to evidence seeks the outright dismissal of the case because the prosecution’s evidence, if not rebutted, cannot sustain a guilty verdict.
Early this year, the Sandiganbayan also dismissed charges against Purisima and former Special Action Force commander Getulio Napeñas in connection with the killing of 44 SAF troopers following a raid to neutralize Islamic militant bombers in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
Purisima, who allegedly supervised the operation was suspended at the time while Napeñas allegedly acquiesced despite knowing the fact that Purisima was suspended and not supposed to get involved in National Police matters.
The anti-graft court said there was “lack of probable cause,” for the graft and usurpation of authority charges filed against the two.
However, the court said the charges against the accused “are dismissed without prejudice to the filing of the appropriate charges again.”
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales filed the original Mamasapano cases against former President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, Purisima, and Napeñas over the January 2015 Mamasapano operation that resulted in the killing of the 44 police commandos.
