MANILA, Philippines—Former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Avelino Razon on Thursday maintained that there was nothing irregular in his approval of the trip of top police officers to an Interpol conference in Russia last October, where they were found at the airport to be illegally carrying Є105,000.

“Everything was aboveboard. There is nothing irregular or sinister in my approval,” Razon said.

He added that the conference was important for the PNP in terms of police training, operations, investigation and exchange of information on transnational crimes and terrorism.

Razon said that on Aug. 27, he approved the trip for the eight-member PNP delegation to the 77th Interpol General Assembly in St. Petersburg, Russia scheduled for Oct. 6 to Oct. 11. The approval was based on a recommendation of Dir. Romeo Ricardo, head of the PNP Directorate for Plans and one of the generals who came along on the trip.

He said he approved only a P2.3-million budget for the eight officers and endorsed the request to Secretary Ronaldo Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

He disavowed any knowledge of a disbursement for any other amount besides the P2.3 million.

“My approval is not the issue here. If they brought along large amounts of money beyond what is allowed by Customs, that is their responsibility. I had nothing to do with whatever excess amount that was on them.”

He also noted that the trip was approved by the office of the present PNP Chief Dir. Gen. Jesus Verzosa, who was at the time PNP Deputy Chief for Administration.

The trip, he said, was approved “subject to rules and regulations” covering foreign travel of PNP officers.

The eight-member delegation included former PNP Comptroller Eliseo dela Paz, retired Gen. Jaime Caringal, Deputy Director Generals Emmanuel Carta and Ismael Rafanan, Directors Ricardo, Silverio Alarcio and German Doria, and Supt. Elmer Pelobello.

On Oct. 11, Dela Paz and his wife Marife were stopped at the Moscow airport after it was discovered they were carrying Є105,000 , or around P6.9 million, an amount well beyond the limit set for travelers.

Razon also said the wives of the generals were not included in the approved list and spent their own funds for the trip.

In a radio interview on Thursday, Razon also said it was “optional and depending on circumstances” for wives to tag along on conferences. He also said his wife Cecille joined two of four such trips.