MANILA, Philippines -- An official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said what Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago called the ?PNP trainees? scam? is an old issue that has already been answered.

During Saturday?s hearing into the apprehension of retired PNP comptroller Eliseo dela Paz by Russian customs officials who found him with 105,000 euros (P6.9 million) in undeclared cash last month, Santiago said the trainees? scam, in which budget allotted for the salary of newly-appointed policemen undergoing training was allegedly not immediately granted to them, could have been the source of the funds seized in Russia.

But in an interview, Director for Police Community Relations Leopoldo Bataoil said the issue had already been answered in past congressional and Senate hearings.

?This issue has already been answered. I remember that no less than the secretary of our budget, Secretary [Rolando] Andaya has answered the issue,? he said.

Santiago had said the annual budget provides for the salaries of police recruits from January to December but cited PNP records that showed police recruits were appointed six months or one year later.

But Bataoil said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will not release the trainees? budget before the PNP?s submission of the list of new recruits.

?The PNP budget, particularly the recruitment budget, is not released by the DBM unless the list [of recruits] is complete, until the documentation is complete, including the oath-taking of duly-screened and duly-selected candidates,? Bataoil said.

?So if there are 3,500 applicants within a year and they have been processed, passed our standards, and completed documentation, that?s the only time that DBM releases the funds for the purpose of salaries and allowances of these new policemen,? he said.

Bataoil added that the PNP will not divert funds intended for the PNP trainees because ?the funds intended for that remain in the custody of the DBM and they will only release the approved amount, which is equivalent to the total number of applicants.?

Nevertheless, Bataoil said they welcomed criticisms from the Senate and other sectors of the government.

?The PNP is grateful for the opportunity given us to explain the events that led to this situation. At that?s all in line with our transparency and in line with our subservience to higher authorities like the Senate and even the Congress and even the Ombudsman. The PNP has shown respect for authority and shown that we are ready to face issues and concerns they need to address,? he added.