‘Euro general’ surrenders
Senators resume probe of Moscow fiasco
By Michael Lim Ubac
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:53:00 11/15/2008
Filed Under: Euro Generals, Police, Government, Graft & Corruption
MANILA, Philippines—On the eve of the resumption of the Senate inquiry into the “euro generals” controversy, retired police Director Eliseo de la Paz formally surrendered to the chamber on Friday.
De la Paz turned himself in to Sen. Panfilo Lacson who brought him to the Office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms, Jose Balajadia Jr.
“I’m here so I can testify tomorrow (Saturday),” was all that De la Paz told reporters. He and his lawyer Noel Malaya turned down requests to be interviewed.
Balajadia appealed to TV crews and reporters to allow De la Paz to rest for the night.
De la Paz wanted to go home on Friday and return for Saturday’s hearing, but Balajadia said he would be safer at the Senate.
The Senate ordered the arrest of De la Paz to force him to appear at the hearing on Saturday on the so-called euro funds controversy. He failed to show up at the initial hearing on Oct. 23 called by the foreign affairs committee chaired by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
Earlier, Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Verzosa ordered the filing of criminal and administrative charges against De la Paz and the eight PNP officials who joined a delegation to the 77th Interpol General Assembly in St. Petersburg, Russia, in early October.
On their way out of Russia, De la Paz, the group’s disbursement officer, was detained at the Moscow international airport for carrying 105,000 euros (P6.9 million) in undeclared cash in excess of the allowable limit.
It was later revealed that De la Paz was actually carrying P9.2 million, P2.9 million for travel expenses and P6.9 million for contingencies.
Verzosa, who assumed the top PNP post only last month, said the P6.9 million was meant for the purchase of spy gear but had been released illegally, while De la Paz said it was a “cash advance.”
Comfort zone
Lacson told reporters that De la Paz surrendered to him because he once served as the PNP chief during the Estrada administration.
He also said that De la Paz was a “mistah” at the Philippine Military Academy—Lacson graduated in 1971, and De la Paz in 1976.
“[De la Paz] is trying to find comfort in me as a former chief PNP. But then, the hearing tomorrow is a different matter altogether. I’ll join my colleagues in grilling him.”
Lacson met De la Paz at the parking lot of a residential compound along Edsa near the Guadalupe Bridge in Makati at about 4 p.m. Friday.
De la Paz and his lawyer emerged from a red Toyota, carrying two black briefcases. They transferred to Lacson’s Toyota Land Cruiser.
Not in hiding
“I’m not in hiding. I turned up because I am ready to testify and answer the questions of senators,” he told reporters before the convoy left for the Senate.
Because of the heavy traffic, it took almost an hour for the convoy, trailed by media vans, to reach the Senate.
Lacson said De la Paz had sent surrender feelers through one of his staff early this week.
He said it would be up to Malaya to ask Santiago if his client could be released to him on recognizance.
“I would suggest they make the request,” said Lacson.
Generals’ wives
Santiago’s foreign relations committee has teamed up with the blue ribbon committee chaired by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano to conduct the hearing on Saturday.
According to a guest list provided by the joint committee, De la Paz and his wife Maria Fe as well as Verzosa and his wife Cynthia have been summoned to appear.
Verzosa did not attend the Interpol meeting and had sent his wife in his stead.
Five generals’ wives who joined the Russia delegation—Cynthia, Maria Fe, Evita Caringal and Anita Carta—were summoned when the Senate began its inquiry on Oct. 23.
Commenting on the appearance of De la Paz’ wife, Lacson said: “It’s quite traumatic on the part of the children if they see their parents being grilled. But it will depend on the decision of my colleagues in the two committees.”
PNP legal officer Benjamin de los Santos confirmed that Cynthia Verzosa will be appearing at today’s hearing after failing to show up at the initial hearing last month.
Undue stress
De los Santos said the PNP chief would be bringing his wife to the hearing “to end the undue stress brought about by the Moscow incident.”
He said Cynthia’s personal physician “will coordinate with Senate doctors” to look after the general’s wife during her public appearance on Saturday. He said Cynthia was suffering from hypertension.
Russian customs authorities have reportedly asked Verzosa’s wife to return to Moscow to explain the cash but the PNP said it has yet to receive the invitation that was sent to the Philippine Embassy in Moscow.
De los Santos said Cynthia would comply “by mail or fax” as flying back was “impractical.”
Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome, the PNP’s chief information officer, said he could not say if the other ladies in the delegation, the wives of Deputy Director General Emmanuel Carta, retired Police Director Jaime Caringal, and of De la Paz, would be at the hearing.
But he said Verzosa had directed other officials summoned by the Senate to attend the proceedings today.
But Verzosa asked that they be excused from the proceedings because they had to attend to “maternal duties in their homes and our families.”
Also expected to appear at the Senate on Saturday are the other members of delegation: Deputy Director General Ismael Rafanan, Police Directors German Doria, Romeo Ricardo and Silverio Alarcio, Supt. Elmer Pelobello, Caringal and De la Paz.
Bartolome said Senior Supt. Tomas Rentoy, chief of the budget division directorate for comptrollership, also confirmed his attendance. Verzosa identified Rentoy as the officer who released the unauthorized funds to De la Paz.
The joint Senate committee also subpoenaed Ofelia Tolentino, owner of Edzen Money Changer, which converted P2.97 million into 45,000 euros; Felisa Sakaluran, of Sakaluran Enterprise, which converted P6.93 million to 105,000 euros; and Tyrone Ng Arejola, who supposedly gave De la Paz the 45,000 euros to purchase watches.
The committee also expects Police Director Edgardo Acuña and Chief Supt. Raul Bacalzo and Rentoy, and the heads of five government agencies. With a report from Tarra Quismundo
|
