Thursday, January 08, 2009 PNP to absolve ‘euro general’
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) will pardon retired Director Eliseo dela Paz should the P6.9 million worth of euros confiscated in Moscow, Russia be returned.
PNP spokesman Nicanor Bartolome said that dela Paz’s “accountability” to the PNP will be cleared once the entire amount of sequestered euro is transmitted back.
“That’s what the PNP wants from him,” Bartolome said.
He, meanwhile, clarified that the PNP’s pardon to dela Paz has nothing to do with the Office of the Ombudsman’s separate investigation into the scandal.
The PNP expected the money to be returned next week as they received reports that the money is already in the possession of dela Paz’s lawyer in Russia - Alex Benitsky. The PNP is just waiting for the money’s transfer.
“We are just awaiting the transmittal. We will expect it to be completed by next week because there are certain rules in transferring money. It depends on the banking regulations,” said Bartolome.
Aside from pardon, the PNP will also release the retirement pay of dela Paz and other generals involved in the scandal.
“Once that (105,000 euros) are returned, then procedurally there’s no problem with their benefits,” said Bartolome. (JRDB/Sunnex)
