Tag: Corruption

Who is to Blame for the Woes of Chief PNP Gen. Purisima?

Yesterday in his opening statement before the Senate Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs, The Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Gen. Alan Purisima, who is under investigation on charges of corruption and ill-gotten wealth, said that the charges against him are a "demolition job" or slander and character assassination (Trans: paninira) by disgruntled firearms fixers, syndicates, and dealers who would want the firearms licensing system to go back to "business as usual." Gen. Purisima also stated that the present system of stricter gun control rules, is to weed out corruption within the ranks of his own PNP personnel, who he claims have long been selling gun licenses to unqualified individuals based on fraudulent records, and record keeping.However, in the same Senate hearing, Sen. Grace Poe and Sen. Serge Osmena also discussed and questioned Gen. Purisima on allegations of his ill gotten wealth, such as his 4 hectare 3.5 million mansion and ranch in Nueva Ecjia, his multi-million poultry farm, P3.9 million Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, and his P3.2 million Toyota Alphard luxury van, plus the P11.2 "donation" made to him via private contractors to renovate his living quarters termed as PNP White House.Who is to blame for the Gen. Purisima's woes? Himself. Continue Reading

Assassination Nation – HBO’s Vice story on Corrupted Philippines Politics

HBO's Vice news magazine show featured a story on firearms and political corruption in the Philippines. While this piece clearly offers an anti-gun perspective, it does draw attention to warlords and corrupt politicians as drivers of gun violence in the country. The plain fact is that the Philippine 'gun problem' is inextricably linked to our nation's struggles with political corruption. No amount of crackdowns on legal civilian firearms ownership will have any effect because we are not the cause. This focus on restrictions for civilians is merely a sleight-of-hand, a tactic to draw attention away from those who are truly responsible. As our crime statistics show, the violence continues despite the gun ban. Ordinary civilians who follow the law suffer from greatly diminished security yet it's business as usual for the criminals and warlords. We have now entered the election period when politicians make promises to tackle society's ills and turn things around for the better. Regardless of their claims, one thing is for sure: they won't solve problems by looking in the wrong direction. Continue Reading

Stricter gun control equals more corruption?

The official fee for a Permit to Carry Firearm Outside of Residence P4000 + P150 card. A permit to Transport (Gun Club) is P360. Source is the official PNP Firearms and Explosives Division web site here: http://www.fed.org.ph/fees.html. Now I am just wondering why the actual cost being charged for a PTCFOR is P8000-P12,000. Also, the actual costs of a PTT is P500. PTCFORs for long arms are likewise being issued for P20,000.Those are current figures. During the time of Ping Lacson in the late 90's, of the several thousand PTCFOR applications being filed only about 160 were approved. Nevertheless, if you are not within the "magic 160", a fee of P10,000 for the PTCFOR would make you a member. Continue Reading