Gambling lords bankrolled Purisima smear drive?

MANILA, Philippines - Beleaguered Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima strongly suspects that gambling lords bankrolled a smear campaign against him, a source said yesterday.

Amid suspicion that “somebody close to him” had something to do with the smear campaign, Purisima wanted to know who among the PNP officials, from regional directors to precinct commanders, receive payoffs from gambling lords, particularly those who earn from the numbers game jueteng, the insider said.

Purisima directed Director Charles Calima, head of the Directorate for Intelligence, to submit as soon as possible a list of police officials who were verified to be on the take. He issued the order six months ago but Calima has yet to submit a list.

During the PNP command conference last Monday, Purisima reiterated his order, saying he wanted proof that someone close to him bankrolled the smear campaign using jueteng money, according to the source.

The source said the jueteng payoff list would also be used in the lifestyle check ordered by Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, who supervises the PNP.

Roxas has a standing “no take” policy against jueteng and the PNP is strictly implementing a “three-strike” policy to relieve police commanders who are reported to be on the take.

The source said Purisima became suspicious that someone close to him had something to do with the smear campaign after his P3.7-million property in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija was mentioned in a report.

He said even the provincial commanders of Nueva Ecija do not know about the property and the one who fed the information to his detractors “could have gone there.”

The source quoted Purisima as saying the property was supposed to be the PNP chief’s family’s “retreat house” once he retires in November 2015.

“The location of the house was kept under wraps so Purisima and his family would be secure after his retirement. So only a few people know about the place,” the insider said.

Since the house and its location had been bared to the public, Purisima’s security upon his retirement is now compromised, he added.

The San Leonardo house was among the issues raised against Purisima, who is also facing plunder charges before the Ombudsman.