‘Euro general’ detained in Senate

November 14, 2008

Former Philippine National Police (PNP) comptroller Eliseo de la Paz yesterday “surrendered” to the Senate on the eve of the scheduled investigation with regard to the incident in Moscow where he was detained for a few days on account of his having carried with him undeclared 105,000 euros, or the equivalent of P6.9 million, last Oct. 11.

The voluntary surrender came despite his petition for a temporary restraining order before the Supreme Court remaining unresolved, as his plea has been stayed, with the Senate asked by the court to comment on De la Paz’s petition.

De la Paz was “turned over” by opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson to Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Maj. Gen. (ret.) Jose Balajadia at 5:20 p.m., shortly after the former PNP official surrendered himself to the lawmaker, accompanied by his lawyer Noel Malaya.

Lacson first met with De la Paz at an undisclosed residence in Guadalupe, Makati City around 4 p.m. before they proceeded to the Senate building.

De la Paz who had been issued an arrest warrant served by the Senate last Monday to the PNP, was effectively placed under detention and will have to spend the night at the Senate.

Apparently, he was prepared for the scenario as he arrived with a small luggage containing his clothes. De la Paz, who refused to be interviewed by reporters, was said to have requested to allow the stay of his wife as well.

But the former PNP comptroller also asks the Senate investigators to at least spare his wife from appearing in the scheduled proceedings today, saying it would only be traumatic for their children.

Whether their wish will be granted is still undetermined, but his wife Maria Fe, is said to be attending the hearing scheduled by the foreign relations and blue ribbon committees.

He relayed this request to Lacson, in the hope of relaying the same to the lawmakers’ colleagues.

De la Paz, reports said, knows one of the members of Lacson staff, and sought Lacson’s help.

The senator was the PNP director general during the Estrada administration. De la Paz asked Lacson to help facilitate his surrender before the Senate.

Lacson belongs to class ‘71 of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) where De la Paz is also an alumni, being a member of class ‘76.

Immediately upon arriving at the Senate grounds, De la Paz underwent a medical check-up before he was led to his detention quarters.

PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa, for his part, has ordered all the eight-man team tagged as the “euro generals” who attended the 77th International Police (Interpol) General Assembly in Russia , including those who already retired from the service, to attend today’s Senate inquiry.

PNP Spokesman Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome yesterday confirmed Verzosa’s order.

Bartolome also assured that the PNP chief will also attend the Senate hearing since he was among those summoned by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations headed by Sen. Miriam Santiago to shed light on the issue.

“All the concerned police officials who were invited to appear before the Senate investigation will attend the hearing tomorrow”, Bartolome said, noting that this was the instruction of General Verzosa.

The other police officials who were instructed to attend the hearing include Deputy Chief for Administration, Deputy Director General Emmanuel Carta; PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Deputy Director General Ismael Rafanan; Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development Director German Doria; Director for Plans Director Romeo Ricardo, Director for Operations Director Silverio Alarcio and Sr. Supt. Elmer Pelobello.

Senior Supt. Thomas Rentoy, Chief of the PNP Budget Division, will also appear before the hearing, it was learned.

Bartolome also refused to comment on whether Mrs. Cynthia Verzosa and Mrs. Marie Fe De la Paz – wife of the PNP chief and retired Director Eliseo de la Paz, respectively – will attend the Senate hearing.

The two spouses were part of the Philippine delegation that attended the Interpol meeting.

De la Paz and Director Jaime Caringal, former director of the PNP Regional Office 9, also expressed their willingness to appear to the Senate investigation although they are no longer covered by Verzosa’s order since they have retired from the police service.

Caringal bowed out from the police service last Nov. 5. Verzosa, Caringal and De la Paz are classmates in the PMA.

“I am not in a position to say if their wives will attend the hearing. But the advice of the Chief PNP is for all those who have been invited to attend…to comply,” the PNP spokesman added.

Not to be outdone, the committee on public order and safety of the House of Representatives will also hold hearings on the media-christened euro generals.

The start of the House hearing is next week.

Committee chairman Rep. Rodolfo Antonino Thursday said his panel has already sent out invitations to members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who went to Russia, as well as Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary and National Police Commission (Napolcom) chairman Ronaldo Puno to attend House inquiry on Wednesday. Nov. 19.

“Basically, those we have invited were all those who went to Russia and the officials of the Napoclcom,” Antonino said.

With Dela Paz and his spouse detained by immigration officials in Moscow for non-declaration of euros in their possession and for carrying 105,000 euros,which was more than the allowable limit, a controversy arose, with Sen. Miriam Santiago immediately calling for a probe that summoned some 35 officials and officers.

When Dela Paz became a no-show at the hearing, Santiago ordered his instant arrest, without first going through the usual due process, such as citing the police comptroller in contempt, after which he is asked to respond to the contempt citation. Only after that can the Senate order his arrest.

But since some 10 senators concurred with Santiago’s arrest order, and as this was signed by the Senate president, the Senate security was ordered to arrest De la Paz who later surrendered voluntarily to the Senate.

Earlier, the PNP claimed the confiscated euros consisted of a “contingency fund” for the PNP delegation to the 77th Interpol meet held in St. Petersburg, Moscow.

The House’s public order and safety committee inquiry into euro generals controversy was originally scheduled for Oct. 24 but was postponed as Congress was still in recess.

Antonino said that his committee is already reviewing the reports submitted by the PNP and Napolcom on the incident so they would be ready for next week’s House inquiry.

A former comptroller of the PNP, De la Paz retired from the police service last Oct. 9.

While De la Paz and other members of the PNP delegation were allowed to return to the Philippines by Russian authorities, the euros were seized by the Russian government.

As of yesterday, the PNP has not received the amount from the Russian authorities although they have forwarded several documents to Moscow that will allegedly prove that the amount came from the PNP funds.

Aside from the 105,000 euros, De la Paz was also carrying some 45,000 euros which were reportedly owned by his personal friend who requested him to buy some items in Russia during their trip.

The identified friend has also been summoned by the Senate to appear tomorrow. With Angie M. Rosales, Gina Peralta-Elorde and PNA

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