Top Philippine police chief 10 others ordered dismissed over contract

(MENAFN- Arab News) MANILA Philippines: The Philippines' anti-graft prosecutor on Tuesday ordered the national police chief and 10 other officers dismissed from the service for approving a contract to deliver gun licenses with a courier company that had no track record.
Police Director General Allan Purisima and the other officers also are being investigated for possible criminal violations of the anti-corruption law Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said in a statement.
There was no immediate comment from Purisima and the others who can still appeal the order.
The officers had been under suspension for six months without pay since December.
Purisima resigned as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief in early February after 44 police commandos were killed in an operation that also led to the death of one of Asia's most-wanted terror suspects. He was allegedly involved in the operation despite his suspension.
Despite resigning from his post as PNP chief Purisima still retains his rank which is an obstacle to replacing him before his official retirement in November.
The statement from the ombudsman's office said Carpio-Morales 'found substantial evidence' that Purisima and the others entered into 'an anomalous courier service contract' with the Werfast Documentary Agency in 2011 and that Purisima 'exerted pressure and coercion' on his subordinates to have the contract approved.
When the national police signed a memorandum of agreement with Werfast in May 2011 the company was not even incorporated. The company paid a 'measly capitalization' of only 65000 pesos ($1440) when it finally incorporated three months later the statement said.
It said investigators also determined that Werfast had no authority manpower logistic capability and machinery to engage in courier services. It also did not pay taxes and lacked the required capital of at least 500000 pesos ($11000) to operate in more than two regions in the country.
Lacking experience it contracted a courier company but charged more than double what that courier company would have charged for delivering more than 90000 firearms licenses before it was suspended in early 2014.
Purisima is also under investigation for allegedly undervaluing his properties including a mansion in a large estate in his northern home province of Nueva Ecija.