Wednesday, November 05, 2008 'Euro-generals' case handed over to Ombudsman
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday terminated its investigation the so-called "euro generals" scandal to pave the way for a deeper probe by the Office of the Ombudsman, a top police official said.
Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), also announced in a press briefing in Camp Crame that they were submitting to the Ombudsman all the evidences and documents related to the case.
"We've accumulated all the necessary documents pertaining to our investigation, we are waiting for other pieces of evidence," said Nerez who led the investigation against the eight "euro generals" headed by former police comptroller Director Eliseo dela Paz.
"But because of the letter of our Ombudsman, the chief PNP (Director General Jesus Verzosa) directed to submit report and documents and evidence in connection with the Moscow incident, this afternoon we are submitting documents in our possession," Nerez said.
Dela Paz and seven other generals of the PNP attended an assembly meeting of the International Police in St. Petersberg. Dela Paz was held by Russian officials for not declaring P6.9 million in euro dollars to airport authorities.
Nerez said it is now up to the Ombudsman who would be finally charged in court in connection with the mess.
Incidentally, Verzosa has ordered the filing of charges against dela Paz and several budget officers before the courts if evidence warrants.
"We are yielding to the Ombudsman, it is not up to them to decide on the case," said Nerez, adding that the investigation the CIDG has conducted was only 80 percent complete.
The Ombudsman has actually started its investigation on the case as early as October 16.
"The Ombudsman already invoked its authority and primary jurisdiction (on the case) and therefore the PNP already yields to the investigation of Ombudsman. Of course, we are always ready to help in view of the Ombudsman. That is what’s going to happen... We have the same objective, to ferret out the truth. So we will always be here to cooperate with the Ombudsman," he said.
Nerez clarified that the case is not deemed closed, noting the investigation being done by the Ombudsman.
"It’s not a close case but we (PNP) cease to investigate the case...But if the Ombudsman asks (for more) records from and its within our competence and jurisdiction, we are more than ready to help the ongoing investigation of the Ombudsman," he said. (VR/Sunnex)
