'No quantum of evidence to suspend Verzosa'

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang will merely take “under advisement” the recommendation of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago to suspend Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa over the “euro generals” fiasco, saying no evidence has been presented to warrant that course of action.

“We are waiting for the quantum of evidence required to be brought forth which will enable us to make an informed decision,” said Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo. “We believe that it would be premature to make any pronouncements at this point.”

On the other hand, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the Senate should investigate the issue and make recommendations based on the evidence it had gathered from the testimony of retired police comptroller Eliseo de la Paz.

The courts would eventually act against the individuals involved in the controversy since the Senate could only recommend the filing of charges, he added.

At the Office of the Ombudsman, Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni told The STAR that De la Paz could face charges of graft and malversation of public funds based on his admissions before the Senate last Saturday that he authorized the release of some P7 million in cash advances from the intelligence funds of the Philippine National Police.

“His admission would be used in our investigation as part of records – especially since it was under oath,” he said.

Jalandoni, who heads the investigating panel, said they will review affidavits submitted by De la Paz and other top police officials involved in the seizure of 105,000 euros at Moscow international airport, and compare them to his testimony before the Senate.

“We will still be comparing his (De la Paz’s) admission with the documents that we already have,” he said. “What he said may not necessarily be true.”

The Office of the Ombudsman has already summoned De la Paz and four other top police officials linked to the controversy.

They are Superintendent Samuel Rodriguez, Senior Supt. Tomas Rentoy III, Chief Superintendent Orlando Pestaño, and Director Romeo Ricardo.

The investigating panel will also summon Chief Superintendent Romeo Hilomen, Superintendent Andrei Perez Dizon, and chief accountant Antonio Retrato, whose signatures appeared in some of the documents submitted by the PNP to the Ombudsman, Jalandoni said.

All of them were ordered to appear before a public hearing for the fact-finding investigation of the Ombudsman tomorrow.

They would undergo “clarificatory questioning,” according to Jalandoni.

The Office of the Ombudsman aims to determine if laws were violated by the police generals involved in the controversy.

The investigating panel is tasked to determine if a complaint could be filed against the police officials involved in the incident.

Lifestyle check for PNP officials

De la Paz and other top police officials will face charges of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act if they fail the lifestyle check to be undertaken by the National Police Commission.

“We have formed teams (already),” Napolcom Vice Chairman Eduardo Escueta told The STAR.

“They can be sued for violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices law for illegally amassing unexplained or illegal wealth.”

Escueta said the lifestyle check must be covert but should be known to the agency concerned.

“When it’s vehicles, it’s the Land Transportation Office,” he said.

“If it’s property or land, the Registry of Deeds. If foreign travel, the Bureau of Immigration.”

Last week, the Napolcom ordered the conduct of lifestyle checks on the so-called euro generals after initial results of its own investigation on the issue revealed possible irregularities.

In a report, the investigating team questioned why money was drawn from intelligence funds for the travel allowance of the police generals.

The Napolcom ordered that the retirement benefits of each of the police officials involved in the controversy be put on hold.

Puno defended

Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome, PNP spokesman, said there is no basis for Puno and Verzosa to go on leave or be suspended.

“Dapat may basis (there should be basis for suspension),” he said.

“At the Senate hearing ay nakita natin na inako ni Gen. De la Paz ang responsibilidad. Let’s take it from Gen. De la Paz nung sinabi nyang siya lang (we saw Gen. De la Paz take full responsibility).”

Bartolome said De la Paz is not protecting anyone because he was just telling the truth when asked about the opinion of senators that he was just a “scapegoat.”

“Sa mga investigation tulad doon sa Senado, lahat makakalkal yun (everything will be unearthed at the Senate investigation) and the matter is now with Ombudsman, which is the proper forum kung meron mang pwede isampang kaso, sila ang makaka-alam (if there is a case to be filed, they would know).”

Meanwhile, Bartolome said four technical working groups will review the present set up of the recruitment, procurement, foreign travel and Internal Affairs Service.

“For instance in the recruitment, the directorates involved are the Directorate for Human Resources and Doctrine Development, Directorate for Personnel and Records Management and Directorate for Logistics,” he said.

Under the law, every member of the police and military will have to retire at the age of 56.

Most of the PNP delegates to the 77th Interpol General Assembly have less than one year left in the police service.

At the House of Representatives, three pro-administration lawmakers said Santiago has no basis to call for the suspension of Puno and Verzosa.

“Due process and presumption of innocence must be accorded to all,” said Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino.

Senator Santiago of all people should know this, but her judgment is clouded by past history with Puno.

Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Simeon Datumanong agreed.

“I don’t see any legal basis for the suspension of Verzosa and Puno,” he said.

Pangasinan Rep. Thomas Dumpit shared the same view.

The House committee on public order and safety chaired by Antonino has scheduled the probe on De la Paz and the other generals linked to the incident.

“We expect the formal referral of the resolution to our committee in time for our hearing on Wednesday (Nov. 19),” Antonino said.

“Considering the gravity of the issue which affects the morale of the police force and the integrity of the organization, it is imperative that we conduct this investigation.

“We need to shed light on the matter in the interest of determining the necessary legislations that need to be crafted to prevent the same incident from happening again.” – With Edu Punay, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Michael Punongbayan, Delon Porcalla