PNP to review selection procedure for int'l conferences

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa ordered a review of the selection procedure for participants attending seminars and conferences abroad.

Verzosa formed a technical working group (TWG) to study the process of selecting delegates from the PNP to attend official functions overseas.

Verzosa issued the order in the aftermath of the “euro generals” controversy stemming from the unexplained cash advances of retired police Director Eliseo de la Paz, who was held at the Moscow airport for carrying excessive undeclared cash.

De la Paz was among the ranking PNP officials who attended the annual Interpol conference in Russia last month.

He claimed the cash he was carrying, amounting to 105,000 euros or P6.9 million, was a contingency fund for the PNP delegation.

Verzosa said the PNP leadership is doing its best to improve regulations, particularly on procedures for officials attending functions abroad.

Verzosa tasked Director Geary Barias, chief of the PNP Directorial Staff, to head the TWG, which will also update and consolidate the release, payment and disbursement of government funds for official travel or mission, whether local or foreign.

“There is a need to strengthen and enhance existing PNP rules and regulations regarding the attendance and participation of PNP members to conferences related to the missions and functions of the PNP, whether local or international, and to the release, payment and disbursement of funds for the purpose,” Verzosa said.

Verzosa also directed Barias to submit a report to the National Police Commission (Napolcom) for approval and subsequent implementation by the PNP.

Like De la Paz, most of the police officers who attended the Interpol assembly in Russia have less than a year left in the service.

Some sectors questioned why they were allowed to attend the conference since the PNP will no longer benefit from their trip, the expenses of which were supposedly paid by PNP funds.

Aside from studying the qualification and the selection process, Verzosa said the PNP, through the Directorate for Intelligence, and in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, would institutionalize the conduct of pre-departure briefing/seminar for all personnel going abroad, whether on official mission or personal business.

Verzosa said the pre-departure briefing was meant to inform the police officers of the prevailing immigration and customs laws of the country they are visiting.

Even as De la Paz apologized for the international embarrassment, he sought to question before the Supreme Court the Senate investigation into the incident.

Verzosa has recommended the filing of charges against De la Paz, Chief Superintendent Orlando Pestano, head of the PNP Finance Service; Senior Superintendent Tomas Rentoy, budget division chief of the Directorate for Comptrollership; and Superintendent Samuel Rodriguez, disbursing officer of the Directorate for Intelligence.

He directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to file the appropriate charges against the police officers.

Two of the PNP generals who were part of the eight-man delegation to the Interpol conference in Moscow returned their cash advances.

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

De la Paz was supposed to return on Friday the entire P274,070 he received, but PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said he has no information whether the funds had been returned.

Bartolome said Ricardo, Deputy Director General Emmanuel Carta and the rest of the officials – Deputy Director General Ismael Rafanan, Deputy Chief for Operation; Director Jaime Caringal, chief of Western Mindanao Police Region; and Superintendent Elmer Pelobello – are expected to return the money by tomorrow.