De la Paz apologizes for Moscow fiasco

MANILA, Philippines – Retired police comptroller Director Eliseo de la Paz returned to Manila yesterday and immediately apologized, saying he was willing to face investigation after being caught carrying undeclared cash worth 105,000 euros, or P6.9 million, at the departure area of a Moscow airport last Oct. 11.

De la Paz and several police officers had attended an International Police (Interpol) conference in Russia, even though he retired from the service in the course of the conference.

De la Paz arrived at 1 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on a Singapore Airlines flight from Moscow, through Singapore.

The embattled police officer and his wife Maria Fe were held in a Moscow hotel for 10 days. Mrs. De la Paz arrived in Manila last Monday on another Singapore Airlines flight.

The controversial police   official apologized for the “untoward incident” in which he failed to declare the 105,000 euros or P6.9 million he brought with him to Russia.

“I apologize deeply to our people and to our government for the untoward incident at the Moscow International Airport that last week touched off an international embarrassment to our country. I apologize, too, to my fellow delegates to the Interpol Conference for having put them in an awkward position as a result of my misstep,” De la Paz told a press conference at a restaurant in San Juan yesterday afternoon.

He also clarified that the money will be returned to the appropriate office together with the liquidation report on the official expenses incurred during the Interpol meeting.

“I am ready to face an investigation as I have nothing to hide,” De la Paz said.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said De la Paz had wire transferred the money last Monday from Moscow to the Philippines.

“I offer no excuse for the lapse and can only say that I regret having been remiss in my obligations as a departing visitor in Russia, inadvertently failing to report to airport police authorities the amount of cash in my possession,” he added.

De la Paz said the international embarrassment he caused was solely his responsibility.

He, however, explained that the fund was intended for legal purposes.

“I take full responsibility for this lapse that has undeservedly led to a negative public perception of the institution that I hold so dearly and have served faithfully and honestly through all these years,” said De la Paz.

He said the almost week-long conference activities plus the send-off and the typical bustle at the international airport had apparently taken their toll on him and resulted in his act of inadvertence.

De la Paz explained that the P6.9-million “contingency funds” came from his authorized cash advance of P10 million and was intended to serve as a revolving fund for the PNP delegation to the Interpol conference.

“As police comptroller and special disbursing officer of the top-level Philippine delegation that attended the international gathering, I took out from my authorized P10-million cash advance bonded authority the amount of P6.93 million, which I converted into 105,000 euros as the standby revolving fund for our official travel,” Del a Paz said.

“Russia is an expensive country to be in, especially for transients or non-residents. It is a shock for tourists to find out that the rates in Moscow and St. Petersburg are just as expensive or even costlier than those in first class cities elsewhere,” he said.

“I am ready and willing to face any investigation as I have nothing to hide,” he said. “I have with me all supporting evidence to prove my innocence and clear my fellow delegates who had been unwittingly dragged into this controversy. These documents are the same papers submitted to the Russian authorities to prove that the money was a legal fund for a legal purpose,” he said.

He said he would go to the Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday, and the Senate later.

Russian customs authorities allowed De la Paz to leave after the Philippine National Police sent documents that were translated into Russian stating that the cash seized from the police official belongs to the PNP and was part of the contingency fund of the delegation to the 77th Interpol General Assembly, held from Oct. 7 to Oct. 10 in St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad). De la Paz’s date of retirement was last Oct. 9.

The other police officials in the delegation were Deputy Directors General Emmanuel Carta, Ismael Rafanan, Directors Romeo Ricardo, Silverio Alarcio, German Doria and Jaime Caringal, and Superintendent Elmer Pelobello, aide of the delegation.

Like Dela Paz, the other police officials brought along their wives to the Interpol meeting.

The wife of PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa also accompanied the police delegation even though the police chief did not go to Russia. PNP officials explained that Verzosa’s wife Cynthia and the wives of several of the officers also went with the delegation as invited guests to attend Interpol’s women functions.

De la Paz is a member of the Philippine Military Academy class of 1976, along with Verzosa and Armed Forces chief General Alexander Yano. Another classmate, Director Caringal, stayed behind in Moscow to accompany the De la Paz couple. 

Inspection at NAIA

At the NAIA, PNP Aviation Security Group led by Senior Superintendents Efren Labiang and Manuel Pintado met De la Paz at the passenger tube.

“I want to go back to my family first, nagaalaala ang mga anak ko (my children are worried) and to assure them also that okay na ako,” De la Paz told reporters.

De la Paz presented his passport to an immigration officer then walked towards the customs area where he attempted to go out but was intercepted by Tess Roque, customs deputy collector for arrival passenger services.

“I am sorry, sir, but we need your baggage declaration form before you can go out of the airport,” Roque told De la Paz, who then searched for his baggage declaration form.

When the police official’s luggage arrived, De la Paz went through customs examination, where he was asked by examiner Rosario Domilon whether he had any cash to declare. Dela Paz replied: “None.”

Domilon told De la Paz that it was common knowledge that he went out to Russia and was held there for illegal possession of undeclared cash. She wanted to know where the money is now.

“I left the money behind in Russia. It would be sent to me by the Russian via electronic wire transfer in the name of PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa for safekeeping,” De la Paz replied.

He said the money would be liquidated as soon as the official receipts for the expenses are turned over to the PNP chief.

Domilon asked De la Paz to open the two pieces of luggage with him, one a big black bag and the other a smaller mocha-colored case.

The two cases were opened in the presence of other customs officials, PNP and NAIA assistant general manager Angel Atutubo.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee and vice chairman of the Senate committee on finance, said the Senate will hold an investigation into the Moscow fiasco.

Reps. Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiño of the party-list group Bayan Muna have filed House Resolution 843 to probe the so-called “Euro Generals” of the PNP.

Secretary Puno said De la Paz would have to face the Commission on Audit team assigned at the PNP just like all retiring officers who are required to secure clearances from their equipment and money accountabilities.

He advised De la Paz to cooperate with the Senate if he is summoned to appear in any inquiry.

Meanwhile, Malacañang welcomed plans in the Senate and in the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate the Moscow incident.

Palace officials said the administration would allow Puno and other top government officials to attend the Senate hearing if summoned, and will waive executive privilege.

Miriam to start probe despite absence of senators

Sen. Santiago will start the public hearing on Thursday on the Moscow incident even if she and Sen. Mar Roxas were the only senators present, since a majority of their colleagues are abroad.

She also rejected the explanation of the PNP officials that the cash was classified as a “cash advance” instead of contingency funds as earlier announced by Secretary Puno.

Santiago pointed out that even if the funds are called cash advance instead of contingency funds, the change in name does not justify the extravagant amount.

She also wondered why De la Paz and his wife planned to go to Warsaw, Poland, which the senator noted was very near London, Europe’s financial hub.

The trip to Warsaw was subsequently scrapped after De la Paz and his wife were held at the Moscow airport.

“Why were they en route to Warsaw in Poland, when others are going home? We are supposed to travel (based on the itinerary) – Warsaw is not a natural part of the itinerary (and) is very near London, the financial center,” Santiago said.

Santiago also wants to know if the police officials violated Commission on Audit (COA) regulations and why they were able to pass Philippine immigration officers at the NAIA unnoticed, despite carrying cash in excess of the $10,000 allowable travel money.

Santiago warned police officials and even Puno against giving her a run-around in tomorrow’s hearing.

“Wag nila sana akong bolahin. Madali akong magalit pag binobola ako (I hope they won’t try to fool me. I easily get angry when people try to fool me),” Santiago said.

After the hearing, Santiago, who is leaving Saturday for her campaign at the International Court of Justice, said her committee can issue a recommendation to the Office of the Ombudsman and to the Office of the President to address the legal issues and disciplinary actions on the matter.

Santiago and Roxas are chairperson and member, respectively, of the Senate foreign relations committee, which is conducting the inquiry.

Under the Senate Rules of Procedure, Santiago noted that only two members are required to form a quorum for a committee hearing.  

Santiago was expected to issue subpoenas duces tecum yesterday, after the arrival from abroad of Sen. Pia Cayetano, who was designated as Senate officer-in-charge.

Santiago already issued last Monday invitations to the hearing, in order to comply with the Senate rule that requires three days’ notice. Cayetano will approve the subpoenas as required by Senate rules, on authority of Senate President Manuel Villar who is abroad but authorized the issuance of subpoenas.

Last Monday, then Senate officer-in-charge Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile refused to sign the subpoenas on the ground that he is only authorized to sign administrative matters. Enrile will be abroad by Thursday.

Since Congress is on recess, most senators cannot attend the hearing, either because they are abroad, out of town, or have prior engagements.

Senators Joker Arroyo, Lito Lapid, Rodolfo Biazon, Francis Pangilinan, Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon Revilla Jr., Richard Gordon, Panfilo Lacson, Villar and Enrile are abroad while Edgardo Angara, Gregorio Honasan, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Francis Escudero, Allan Peter Cayetano, and Aquilino Pimentel will be out of town.

The senators who have prior engagements are Loren Legarda, Jamby Madrigal, and Benigno Aquino III. - With Christina Mendez, Paolo Romero