MANILA, Philippines -- The 105,000 euros confiscated from retired police comptroller Eliseo dela Paz by Russian authorities is expected to be returned to the Philippine National Police (PNP) bank account by the end of the month and the former general will be cleared of his liabilities with the PNP.

However, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said the Office of the Ombudsman will still determine if Dela Paz should incur administrative liability for the seizure of the undeclared cash in Moscow last year.

The PNP, Bartolome said, is only concerned with the retirement benefits of Dela Paz and the return of the money, which was sourced from the police intelligence fund for the use of a ranking delegation to an Interpol conference in Russia.

Bartolome admitted they have yet to receive formal word from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) about the return of the 105,000 euros.

Dela Paz’s counsel, Noel Malaya, said Tuesday that Russian lawyer Alex Binetskiy was in Manila to formally return an estimated 128,000 euros to the PNP and to Dela Paz.

Malaya also said Russian authorities have cleared Dela Paz and his wife, Maria Fe, because “there was no criminal intent. [They] concluded that the wife had no intent of smuggling and did not hide the currency she was carrying. She showed it [currency] to police officer on first request.”

Director for police community relations German Doria expressed relief over the news.

“What we are claiming all the while is the truth. But I hope that the money will be returned already and the issue will be settled,” Doria said, who was one of the members of the PNP contingent to Russia.