Former Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan L.M. Purisima yesterday pleaded not guilty during his arraignment over graft charges in connection with the allegedly anomalous courier service deal in 2011.
Apart from Purisma, five of his co-accused former PNP officials also pleaded not guilty before the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division of violating of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. They were Gil Meneses, Napoleon Estilles, Allan Parreno, Melchor Reyes, and Ford Tuazon.
The anti-graft court deferred the arraignment of Purisima’s other co-accused, former Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta and Werfast Documentation Agency Inc. official Salud Bautista, president of the money remittance firm Philippine Remittance Corp., that was allegedly involved in the $81-million money laundering scandal. (Jeffrey G. Damicog)