PNoy defends PNP chief anew

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III defended Philippine National Police (PNP) director general Alan Purisima from accusations that he amassed hidden or unexplained wealth.

Aquino told the Philippine media in New York that he had known Purisima since 1987 when Purisima was still part of the Presidential Security Group under the administration of his late mother, President Corazon Aquino.

"Hindi ko nakita itong taong ito na maluho, matakaw," Aquino said in the media interview on Tuesday, which was shown on television reports this morning.

The PNP chief was with Aquino when his convoy was ambushed in a failed coup attempt against his mother in 1987.

Aquino's defense of Purisima came after he challenged critics to file cases against "dishonest" administration allies.

On Monday, consumer group Coalition of Filipino Consumers filed plunder, graft and direct bribery charges against Purisima for allegedly amassing ill-gotten wealth and receiving bribes for the building of a mansion in Camp Crame.

The group also accused the PNP chief of hiding the true value of his alleged mansion in Nueva Ecija.

Some camps had called for Purisima's resignation following the kidnap-robbery incident along EDSA that involved policeman.

In a speech in Malacañang earlier this month, Aquino also took the cudgels up for Purisima, claiming that he had performed his mandate well. - Louis Bacani