MANILA, Philippines -- The Russian “brod” [in the Freemasonry] who assisted retired comptroller Eliseo dela Paz on the issue involving millions of pesos worth of undeclared euros is in the country to formally transfer the confiscated euros to the Philippine National Police (PNP) bank account, Dela Paz’s lawyer revealed on Tuesday.

In a phone interview, Noel Malaya said Russian lawyer Alex Binetskiy arrived in Manila last December 22 to finalize the paper work that would formally transfer a total of 128,000 euros to the PNP bank account.

A total of 105,000 euros was reportedly obtained by Dela Paz from the PNP intelligence fund. The balance was the personal money of Dela Paz, Malaya said.

“The money will be transferred to the PNP bank account and we are just finalizing some legalities,” Malaya said, citing some bank regulations and currency requirements that they would need to finalize before formally transferring the account.

Binetskiy is set to leave for Russia Wednesday, Malaya said.

Malaya cited a letter from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), stating the return of the euros from Russia.

Malaya, reading the letter, revealed that Russian customs officials dismissed any criminal charges against Eliseo and Maria Fe dela Paz because “there was no criminal intent. [They] concluded that the wife [Mrs. Dela Paz] had no intent of smuggling and did not hide the currency she was carrying. She showed it [currency] to police officer on first request.”

Malaya welcomed this development.

“We’re happy this is now coming from a Russian government decision confirming the story of the general,” he said.

Malaya said the money would be transferred to the PNP bank account soon.