What went before
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:12:00 11/16/2008
Filed Under: Euro Generals, Police, Government
MANILA, Philippines—Oct. 11—Retired Philippine National Police comptroller Eliseo de la Paz is barred from boarding a flight out of Moscow after customs inspectors found cash beyond the allowable limit in his carry-on luggage.
De la Paz, the disbursement officer for the PNP delegation to the 77th Interpol General Assembly in St. Petersburg, was carrying what was left of a P6.9-million fund (105,000 euros) for the group’s travel expenses. Four generals’ wives, including De la Paz’s wife Maria Fe, were with the delegation.
(A Sept. 4 travel authorization signed by Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno as chair of the National Police Commission mentioned only a P2.3-million expense allowance for the delegation.)
An additional 45,000 euros was seized from De la Paz at the Moscow international airport. He later explained that the money came from a friend who had asked him to buy luxury watches for him in Vienna.
Oct. 21—De la Paz returns from Russia. He tells a press conference that the P6.9 million came from the PNP, and was for contingencies while the Napolcom-approved P2.3 million was for the expected expenses like airfare, accommodations, food and incidentals.
Oct. 23—The Senate committee on foreign relations opens an inquiry into the incident. De la Paz fails to attend the hearing. He is ordered arrested by committee chair Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
At the hearing, Puno and PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa fail to explain the origin of the cash that De la Paz had brought abroad.
It is established at the hearing that the money (the P2.3 million plus the undeclared P6.9 million) was not withdrawn from any local bank where the PNP has an account.
The Senate committee finds the entire PNP delegation guilty, and recommends their criminal prosecution for graft, malversation of public funds and violation of the anti-money laundering law and banking rules.
It also recommends the preliminary investigation of Verzosa and Puno for violating government travel restrictions.
Oct. 26—Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. seeks the preventive suspension of Verzosa, the entire PNP Russia delegation and the budget division chief of the PNP Directorate for Comptrollership.
Oct. 27—Verzosa declares there is “reasonable basis” to file criminal charges against De la Paz and three other senior officers (Chief Supt. Orlando Pestańo, chief of the PNP finance service; Senior Supt. Tomas Rentoy, chief of the budget division of the directorate for comptrollership; and Supt. Samuel Rodriguez, disbursing officer of the directorate for intelligence).
Verzosa orders the seven active PNP officials who went to Russia to return their travel allowances in full and reimburse their expenses later “should they feel they are entitled to it.”
Verzosa also rejects demands that he go on official leave, saying he needed to tackle important security problems facing the country.
Oct. 28—De la Paz asks the Supreme Court to prohibit Santiago from conducting the inquiry and to nullify the arrest order issued against him, saying the Senate foreign relations committee was limited to matters involving Philippine diplomatic relations and overseas workers.
Nov. 4—The PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group closes its investigation into the unauthorized fund release and forwards to the Ombudsman an incomplete portfolio of evidence.
Nov. 11 —De la Paz’s lawyer, Noel Malaya, receives the arrest order for his client from Jaime Dimacali, team leader of the Senate arresting team. Malaya says De la Paz is visiting relatives in La Union and Bataan.
Nov, 12 —The Supreme Court denies De la Paz’s petition.
Santiago asks the Bureau of Immigration to put De la Paz on its watch list. The bureau complies.
Nov. 14—De la Paz turns himself in to Sen. Panfilo Lacson who brings him to the Senate Sergeant at Arms. Inquirer Research
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