MOSCOW FUND MESS
Solons say PNP reorganization needed
Say accountability hard under present set-up
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 19:49:00 11/20/2008
Filed Under: Euro Generals
MANILA, Philippines -- The Moscow fund mess has prompted calls by lawmakers and even the police for a reorganization of the structure of the Philippine National Police (PNP), especially in the area of finance, to make it easier to pinpoint accountability.
The House committee on safety and public order concluded its second hearing Thursday without having established the paper trail of the 105,000 euros brought by a top-level PNP delegation to the Interpol conference in Russia in October and with retired police comptroller Eliseo dela Paz still acknowledging the blame for the mess.
Committee chairman Representative Rodolfo Antonino said they are temporarily suspending the hearings while waiting for more documents from the PNP.
Bayan Muna (People First) Representative Teodoro Casiño has asked Dela Paz to submit the documents he gave to Russian authorities to justify the 105,000 euros customs officials in Moscow found on him.
Dela Paz and his wife were accosted as they were about to fly out of Moscow because they had failed to declare the cash.
Antonino said when the documents have been submitted, the committee will meet in executive session to review these and determine whether they can draw conclusions.
Parañaque Representative Roilo Golez said it is time to revisit pending bills on the PNP reorganization for better management of resources and accountability of officials.
Antonino said changes in the PNP structure are necessary for better accountability. He said one of the proposals pending the in the House is for the office of the comptrollership and all other offices handling financial matters to be under just one directorate.
PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa said he was in favor of integrating the directorate for comptrollership under a directorate for financial services.
After two hearings, Antonino said it was clear Dela Paz had violated certain laws such as provisions of the Central Bank Act.
Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo said that, “for now, the blame is focused on Dela Paz because he took it on himself when he admitted that it was he who asked for intelligence funds” as expenses for the delegation to the Interpol meeting.
Dela Paz invoked his right against self-incrimination when asked by Representative Thomas Dumpit Jr. how much money he really had in his possession when he went to Russia.
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