'Euro generals' return Russia travel allowance

MANILA, Philippines – Two police generals who were part of the eight-man delegation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to the International Police (Interpol) conference in Russia have returned their cash advances to the PNP in the wake of the scandal over the seizure by Russian airport authorities of the undeclared 105,000 euros in the possession of retired police comptroller Director Eliseo de la Paz.

Director Silverio Alarcio Jr., PNP Director for Operations, returned the full amount of P274,070, while Director German Doria, Director for Human Resource and Doctrine Development (DHRDD), returned the partial amount of P100,000 with a promissory note to return the balance within 30 days.

De la Paz will return today the entire P274,070 travel fund he received, while Deputy Director General Emmanuel Carta and the rest of the officials are expected to return their travel allowance on Monday.

The police officials apparently gave in to public pressure after the disclosure of the scandal, wherein De la Paz and his wife Maria Fe were held at the Moscow airport for carrying undeclared cash amounting to 105,000 euros or P6.9 million.

Aside from De la Paz, the other police delegates also brought along their wives to Russia. Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa did not attend the Interpol meeting but his wife Cynthia went with the PNP delegation.

Verzosa had ordered the filing of criminal and administrative charges against De la Paz and three other police officials for the unauthorized release of P7 million from the PNP intelligence fund.

He also ordered seven active-duty police officials who went to Russia to return their cash advances of P274,070 each.

He also urged De la Paz, who retired on Oct. 9, to also return his allowance considering that the procedure involved in the release of this amount is questionable.

Police officials are still waiting for Russian authorities to return the 105,000 euros to the PNP.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said the concerned police officials have submitted the necessary documents required for the internal audit and accounting of the expenses for the Interpol conference.

He said Superintendent Samuel Rodriguez, disbursing officer of the PNP Finance Service, properly acknowledged the money that Alarcio and Doria returned.

Rodriguez is one of the police officials that Versoza recommended to be charged for the unauthorized release of the money.

Aside from De la Paz and Rodriguez, Chief Superintendent Orlando Pestano, head of the PNP Finance Service; and Senior Superintendent Tomas Rentoy, budget division chief of directorate for comptrollership, were also included in the list of officials that will be charged.

Meanwhile, classmates of De la Paz at the Philippine Military Academy have expressed their support for the retired police official.    – With Reinir Padua