MRS VERZOSA’S LAWYER
‘No need for return to Russia’
By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 14:25:00 11/06/2008
Filed Under: Euro Generals
MANILA, Philippines -- There is no need for retired police director Jaime Caringal and Cynthia Verzosa, wife of the Philippine National Police chief, to fly back to Russia to answer questions from authorities there, lawyers said on Thursday.
Mrs. Verzosa’s lawyer, Senior Superintendent Benjamin delos Santos, said it would be “impractical” for her to return to Russia “unless they [Russians] pay for our plane tickets.”
Aside from the question of fare, Noel Malaya, legal counsel of retired comptroller Eliseo dela Paz, also said Caringal and Mrs. Verzosa could reply to any questions from Russian authorities through e-mail or fax.
Another option, said Malaya, would be for Caringal and Mrs. Verzosa to send their lawyers to answer the questions.
The Russians have requested the help of the Philippine government to have Mrs. Verzosa and Caringal return there to answer more questions about the failure to declare 105,000 euros in cash found on Dela Paz and his wife at the Moscow airport on October 11.
Mrs. Verzosa and Caringal were with the Dela Paz couple during the incident.
Delos Santos said his client has yet to receive any word from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) about the Russian request.
“There is supposed to be this letter from the Russian authorities sent through DFA but we have not seen that report and neither has DFA sent us an official copy of that report,” he said.
At the same time, Delos Santos said seeking the return of Mrs. Verzosa and Caringal to Russia was “queer.”
“Something’s queer about that procedure. From what I gathered, nasa labas na ng airport si Mrs. Verzosa [Mrs. Verzosa was already outside the airport] and she had to go back to find out what’s wrong with them [dela Paz and his wife]. When she got back, pina-witness siya [she was made to witness] to the inventory of the money, after that umuwi na siya [she went home],” he said.
“We already sent the account number of the PNP. I heard from [Dela Paz’s Russian counsel Alexei] Binetsky that for an administrative infraction like this, the fine is only $100. The procedure of Russia in this case is wrong because they’re trying to commence a formal investigation when the people involved are not there,” Delos Santos added.
If the Russian authorities fail to return the money seized from Dela Paz, the retired comptroller would have to account for it, Delos Santos said.
He also stressed that no money was confiscated from Mrs. Verzosa.
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