Russia needs PNP chief's wife as witness in Euro money inventory

MANILA, Philippines – The wife of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa promised yesterday to cooperate with the Russian government in its investigation into the undeclared 105,000 euros or P6.9 million found in possession of retired police comptroller Eliseo dela Paz last Oct. 11.

Verzosa’s lawyer, Senior Superintendent Benjamin delos Santos, clarified that the summon for Mrs. Verzosa could not mean she is facing any charges in Russia but only to serve as a witness in the inventory of euros found on Dela Paz.

He claimed they have yet to receive official copy of the letter of invitation from the Sheremetyevo Customs in Russia.

“We can’t make an intelligent reply without the official copy of the report. Nevertheless, Mrs. Verzosa was merely requested by Russian customs officials to sign as a witness in the inventory of the euros,” Delos Santos told The STAR. “Mrs. Verzosa will cooperate in whatever way to clear up things either by mail or fax.”

Although Delos Santos’ maintained that Mrs. Verzosa was a mere witness, the letter of the Russian government stated that the wife of the PNP chief must “give explanations for the violations of laws of the Russian Federation and let us make a decision if administrative offense case should be initiated (filing of report on administrative offense) on the ground of the paragraph 15 of the AOC of Russia.”

The STAR reported that the Russian government has summoned Verzosa’s wife and one of the so-called “euro generals,” retired police Director Jaime Caringal, for their failure to declare foreign currency they brought in to Moscow when they attended the 77th Interpol General Assembly in Russia last month. Caringal retired from the police service yesterday upon reaching the retirement age of 56.

In the letter dated Oct. 31, 2008, Verzosa’s wife and Caringal were ordered to appear before the Russian authorities on Nov. 13, 2008.

The two were told to go to the Sheremetyevo Airport, Administrative Building, Sheremetyevo Customs 3rd floor room 24324.

Delos Santos said they also coordinated with the Department of Foreign Affairs about the invitation of the Russian government, but the DFA denied releasing the report.

Although Mrs. Verzosa has indicated her cooperation in the investigation, Delos Santos said the wife of the PNP chief would not likely fly back to Russia.

“Going back is impractical under the circumstances,” said Delos Santos.

Mrs. Verzosa joined the PNP delegation to the Interpol General Assembly in St. Petersburg in Russia from Oct. 6 to 11, though the PNP chief stayed here to attend to the conflict in Mindanao and other pressing matter involving the PNP.

Delos Santos also said they have requested a copy of the Moscow incident report from the DFA early on and sent another follow up letter to no avail.

Even PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome could not give clear explanation on the invitation of the Russian government.

“We have not seen the said communication yet and so we cannot react considering that we have not read its content. Probably when it gets to us, we can give you the appropriate reaction,” Bartolome added.

He said PNP chief Verzosa was in Western Mindanao Region to preside the turnover of command from Caringal to Chief Superintendent Angelo Sunglao.

No comment

Caringal, for his part, said he has not received any formal invitation from Russian authorities to go back to Moscow but is nevertheless ready to cooperate once he gets the official invitation.

He said he did not bear ill feelings being branded as one of the “euro generals.”

“Wala namang masamang connotation yong euro generals. I don’t give negative impression on that. It’s just that the media are good in branding,” he said.

“I have not received any directives to explain,” Caringal said. “I can not comment on anything that I haven’t read.”

He said he will only comment on the issue as soon as he receives the invitation, but stressed that it would not be necessary for him to do so since the case is now being handled by the Ombudsman.

A new tale

Meanwhile, in what could be another twist to an already convoluted story, another person surfaced yesterday and claimed that he was a friend of Dela Paz who gave the latter 45,000 euros to buy an expensive wristwatch abroad.

The claim of Tyrone Ng-Arejola of Binondo, Manila would further muddle the real source of the money found in possession of Dela Paz when he was questioned in Moscow.

“Was the 45,000 euros still part of the 105,000 euros found in possession of Dela Paz? They keep on changing the story of the money,” an observer said.

The PNP initially claimed that the money was “contingency funds” for the PNP delegation to the Interpol conference, but when told that only President Arroyo has the right to contingency funds, the PNP said the fund was “cash advance.”

The PNP chief later claimed the money was from the intelligence funds to purchase intelligence equipment. They said the money was released in Philippine peso without the approval of proper authority.

Dela Paz, however, said he had the money changed from Philippine peso to euro at a money changer in Manila.

But the Budget department claimed that it would be unlawful for PNP officials to procure equipment without proper bidding.

“I have a very close family friend in the name of Mr. Eliseo dela Paz, who I have known for so many years. I learned that my friend Mr. Dela Paz was planning to travel to Europe in October 2008,” said Ng-Arejola in his affidavit Oct. 14, 2008 in Makati City.

A copy of Ng-Arejola’s affidavit was submitted to the Senate foreign affairs committee chaired by Sen. Miriam Santiago conducting inquiry on the Moscow mess.

“I decided to request my said friend to purchase, among others, a Roger Dubuis Bi-Retro Chrono Perpetual Calendar and/ or an IWC Portuguese Chrono watch in white gold casing in Vienna, Austria,” Ng-Arejola said.

On Sept. 29, 2008, Ng-Arejola said he proceeded to Edzen money changer, located at No. 1511 corner Sales street, Mabini, Manila a money changer establishment in order to change his Philippine pesos to euros.

“At the said money changer establishment, I was able to convert my Philippine peso to EU$45,000,” said Ng-Arejola.

Attached to his affidavit were copies of the certificate dated Oct. 3, 2008, and the Edzen receipt dated Sept. 29, 2008 both of which were issued by the money changer evidencing his conversion of Philippine peso to euros.

Ng-Arejola also attested that he met Mr. Dela Paz and handed his 45,000 euros then thanked the latter for granting his request to purchase the watches in Vienna, Austria.

At the Senate, Sen. Manuel Roxas II said the special police investigating team should have charged the police officers involved in the Moscow caper instead of forwarding it to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Roxas, vice-chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, expressed disgust over the decision to bring the case to the Ombudsman for further investigation as he alleged the issue would only gather cobwebs because of the slow action of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. – Roel Pareño, Aurea Calica