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Sunday, October 19, 2008
Police welcome probe on 'euro generals'
BAGUIO CITY –- The Philippine National Police (PNP) is open to an inquiry relative to the P6.9 million “contingency fund” recovered from former PNP comptroller Elisio dela Paz in Russia.
Malacañang is also keeping tabs on the National Police Commission's (Napolcom) investigation into the P6.9-million "euro generals" mess.
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On Saturday, customs authorities in Moscow issued a clearance for the departure of dela Paz after showing proof that he was legally entrusted to the amount by the Philippine government.
"There is no definite violation (committed) on the Moscow incident," PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa said. "We are submitting documents to support (dela Paz's) stand."
Verzosa, who was at Camp Bado Dangwa in La Trinidad, Benguet Saturday for the inauguration of the newly constructed building at the Cordillera Police Regional Office and turnover of PNP mobiles, said the delegation needed to bring a substantial amount because the convention was "not an ordinary one."
"We are open (to any) investigation," he said.
The PNP chief explained the delegation sent to the International Police General Assembly had other activities to attend to, and had to interact with the other delegates of the international assembly.
He said the PNP also needs to attend international conventions to be updated on the latest trends on police operations, particularly on counter-insurgency operations.
Last week, dela Paz was barred from boarding a plane bound for the Philippines when customs inspectors at the Moscow International Airport found in his possession the P6.93 million, claimed to have been left from the fund used by a delegation, which attended the Interpol convention at St. Petersburg.
The amount was beyond what is allowed by Russian customs for departing passengers.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno came to the rescue of dela Paz when he joined other officials in explaining the amount was left of the "contingency fund" for the delegation who attended the international convention.
Verzosa issued an order suspending all foreign trips by PNP officials at the height of the Moscow controversy. He said the suspension would be temporary pending the review of policies involving the trips of PNP officials.
"It (suspension) would take a few days until such time we are able to concretize our policies on foreign travels," he said.
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago meantime called for a Senate investigation on the fund sources of police officials on overseas trips.
The senator said police authorities should clarify if the money recovered from dela Paz was public or not. If its public funds, who authorized its release, the senator added.
De la Paz served as the disbursing officer of the PNP delegation to the 77th Interpol General Assembly in Moscow earlier this month.
Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head Cerge Remonde, on the other hand, said the mess comes at a time government is trying to ensure resources go to programs to cope with a financial crisis.
"It's Napolcom that is doing the investigation. Like everything else, we are monitoring the investigation," he said.
Meanwhile, amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the "euro generals," a 37-member Philippine "delegation" left Friday night for Los Angeles in the United States for a one-week seminar.
The seminar, organized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), will be held from October 17 to 24 at the FBI field office in LA.
Superintendent Randolf Delfin, officer-in-charge of the National Police College, said the delegation attended a pre-departure orientation before leaving.
Delfin said the course was a requirement for promotion in the Philippine Public Safety College.
The delegation included 30 members from the PNP, two from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), one from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and one staff from the Philippine Public Safety College.
Delfin insisted the delegates shouldered their own expenses for the trip. (Jane Cadalig of Sun.Star Baguio/With JMR/Sunnex)
(October 19, 2008 issue)
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