Euro general's early retirement triggers revamp

MANILA, Philippines – Police sources disclosed yesterday that Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa have approved a revamp of top police officials after Deputy Director General Emmanuel Carta, the PNP chief for administration who is one of the seven so-called “euro generals,” applied for early retirement.

The reorganization was apparently triggered by the decision of Carta to go on non-duty status or early retirement in preparation for his official retirement on Jan. 1, 2009, and to have time to prepare his clearance for his retirement benefits.

However, the retirement benefits of Carta could be withheld after Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago had recommended the filing of criminal charges against him, retired police comptroller Eliseo de la Paz, and the six other police officials that attended the 77th International Police General Assembly in St. Petersburg, Russia.

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

De la Paz testified in the Senate last Saturday and took full and sole responsibility for the unauthorized release of 105,000 euros or P6.93 million from police intelligence funds.

“As I mentioned in my arrival statement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, it is my own, I did it on my own behalf,” De la Paz told the senators.

At the start of the hearing, De la Paz told the senators that he is assuming full responsibility over the release of the 105,000 euros from the PNP intelligence fund, in the process clearing Secretary Puno and chief PNP Verzosa from any liability over the issue.

De la Paz maintained his stand despite receiving warnings from Senator Santiago, chairman of the Senate committee on foreign relations, that he could face more than 20 years in jail if found guilty of violating the law.

De la Paz and his wife Maria Fe were held at Moscow airport last Oct. 11 for carrying undeclared cash amounting to 105,000 euros, after they attended the Interpol conference.

“Every police officer is allowed to go on non-duty status as early as three months before his retirement,” Carta told The STAR, and clarified that the controversy on the euro generals has nothing to do with his decision. “Considering that my birthday is on January 1, before that is a holiday, so it’s better to be on non-duty status.”

Sources said the National Police Commission would have to approve the revamp before it can be implemented.

Deputy Director General Ismael Rafanan, the current PNP chief for operations and also one of the euro generals, will replace Carta.

Director Geary Barias, PNP chief of the directorial staff, will be appointed to Rafanan’s post.

Director Jefferson Soriano, National Capital Regional Police Office chief, will replace Barias as chief of the directorial staff. Director Leopoldo Bataoil, chief of Police Community Relations, will take over as NCRPO chief.

Director German Doria, who was also part of the Interpol delegation and currently the director for Human Resource and Doctrine Development, will be designated as chief of Police Community Relations.

Chief Superintendent Sukarno Ikbala will get the post to be vacated by Doria.

The revamp will take effect as Senators Santiago and Aquilino Pimentel Jr. demanded that Verzosa and Puno be suspended or take a leave to allow an impartial investigation of the controversy.

Senators have different views on Santiago’s call to suspend Puno and Verzosa.

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said the Napolcom should review the suspension of Puno and Verzosa.

Sen. Manuel Roxas called on President Arroyo to place on preventive suspension all police officials involved in the Moscow scandal.

“De la Paz and the PNP leadership have failed to give a satisfactory answer to the public’s questions regarding this case. Since the cover-up appears to be continuing, there is a need to suspend in the meantime all the officers involved in this case,” he said.

Roxas said it was commendable that the PNP declared it was instituting reforms in light of the euro generals incident, but this must not be mere lip service.

Verzosa, who attended the turnover ceremony in Camp Olivas, Pampanga, between the outgoing Central Luzon police director Chief Superintendent Errol Pan and incoming director Chief Superintendent Nilo de la Cruz, said he will not resign or go on leave to “keep the ground running.”

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

Verzosa said the PNP would establish guidelines on foreign and local travel of policemen, and he has been conducting briefings and seminars for police officers that are going abroad to avoid other blunders like the Moscow incident.

Chief Superintendent De la Cruz said the image of the PNP has been dented by the trial by publicity of the euro generals.

“With all the publicity generated by this controversy, there have been doubts in the people’s minds,” De la Cruz said. With Christina Mendez, Ric Sapnu, Manny Galvez