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Thursday, November 20, 2008
PNP chief: Dela Paz has no authority to buy equipment
MANILA -- PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa told congressmen on Wednesday that former comptroller Eliseo dela Paz was not authorized to purchase intelligence equipment during the Interpol conference in Moscow last month.
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During the hearing of the House committee on public order and safety, Verzosa told Muntinlupa Representative Ruffy Biazon that there was no such authorization for dela Paz to shop for some sophisticated intelligence equipment.
Dela Paz, who reached the retirement age during the trip, claims the P6.9 million was meant as contingency fund for the Philippine National Police (PNP) delegation that attended the October 7-11 Interpol conference in St. Petersburg. He said more than P2 million was also disbursed as allowance.
Dela Paz also said that while bulk of the money was for contingency, a part of it could have also been used to purchase equipment.
The former police official also admitted he had no "shopping list" of the equipment he was planning to buy in Moscow or even a supplier to deal with.
Biazon berated dela Paz, saying: "you cannot just buy an intelligence equipment like buying a toy in the counter."
"It should be a government-to-government transaction and besides, you don't have an authorization from the PNP chief, you don't also have a shopping list or a company (supplier) in Moscow to provide the equipment," he said.
Dela Paz, however, said since the Interpol did not send anyone to assist them, he just decided to go ahead.
Dela Paz was held at the Moscow airport with his wife, Maria Fe, last October for carrying 105,000 euros.
The former police official explained that not all of the amount will be used in the procurement of the equipment but only samples that will be validated by the PNP.
Dela Paz is willing to disclose the types of equipment he was looking for but only in an executive session.
La Union Representative Thomas Dumpit Jr., former intelligence chief of the Presidential Security Group in the Estrada administration, said dela Paz's decision not to declare the money gave rise to speculations that it came from Russia.
On the questioning of Bayan Muna party-list Representative Satur Ocampo, dela Paz said he considers returning the money to the government by raising the amount with his retirement benefits and other sources.
"Ang retirement benefit ko po ay P2.6 million, kung talagang ipipilit na bayaran ko, hahanap ako ng pagkukunan muna para mapalitan ko ang 105,000 euros (My retirement benefit totals to P2.6 million, if government insists that I have to pay the 105,000 euros then I will find ways to return it)," he said.
Dela Paz said settling matters on his own was part of what he learned in the police academy and as an officer.
Verzosa said all the Interpol participants have already returned the funds disbursed to them.
PNP Director for Plans Romeo Ricardo, however, said the officials would still have to present a liquidation of their expenses after returning the money.
"The process of returning the money does not extinguish the process of clearing the cash advances made," Ricardo said.
Meanwhile, the PNP chief appealed to congressmen to spare their wives from the investigation.
"We come minus the presence of our wives and request the indulgence of your honors that they spared the agony of having to suffer the stress of the intense proceedings that may ensue," he said in a statement distributed to reporters.
Verzosa was supposed to read the statement before the panel but did not have the chance to do so as opposition congressmen immediately threw a flurry of questions to dela Paz.
Verzosa said their wives joined the delegation "to attend to social and cultural functions and the members-husbands, as official delegates, will answer pertinent questions in their behalf."
The police chief, whose wife Cynthia was also dragged into the mess for tagging along in the trip, said their wives also have "marital and family duties to attend to." (WV/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (November 20, 2008 issue)
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