'De la Paz not yet off the hook'

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police (PNP) officials clarified yesterday that retired police comptroller Eliseo de la Paz is not yet off the hook and his retirement benefits are still being withheld, even after he repaid the 105,000 euros or P6.9 million from the police intelligence fund that was seized in a Russian airport last year.

Chief Superintendent Romeo Hilomen, PNP Directorate for Comptrollership, said De la Paz is still being investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman regarding his criminal liability for allegedly taking funds from the PNP Directorate for Intelligence without proper authorization.

“As far as the PNP is concerned, we have no more jurisdiction on the administrative culpability of De la Paz. However, the Ombudsman will be the one to determine if De la Paz has criminal liability,” Hilomen added.

The Ombudsman directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to submit all documents on the case.

Friends of De la Paz donated the money to enable the controversial former police officer to pay the PNP the 105,000 euros that were seized from him by Russian authorities at a Moscow airport last October.

De la Paz paid in Philippine peso-denominated checks yesterday afternoon.

The retired comptroller paid the peso equivalent of 65,000 euros. Alex Binestkiy, De la Paz’s lawyer in Russia, had earlier transmitted to the PNP account from Moscow 40,000 euros.

De la Paz’s Filipino counsel Noel Malaya said his client paid at least P4,448,000 to the PNP Finance Service yesterday before 3 p.m. or the close of banking day.

De la Paz and his wife were held at a Moscow airport on Oct. 11, 2008 for carrying the undeclared euros, after they attended the 77th International Police (Interpol) General Assembly in St. Petersburg, Russia.

De la Paz hopes that the reimbursement of the 105,000 euros will prompt the Ombudsman to dismiss the charges against him.

“After I have settled the account hopefully all the charges against me will be dismissed,” De la Paz told The STAR.

De la Paz said his lawyer Noel Malaya would submit copies of the documents of the reimbursement to the Ombudsman to convince the anti-graft body to dismiss the charges against him.

Hilomen said the PNP would distribute the 105,000 euros that had been converted to pesos to intelligence units.

“The intelligence fund, which was advanced by De la Paz, is intended for intelligence units. So upon approval of the auditor and the accountant, we will be issuing the money to the intelligence unit so they will be using the money,” said Hilomen.

“These funds are now officially PNP financial assets, subject to disposition under existing government accounting and auditing procedures,” said Hilomen, adding that six of the eight police officials who were members of the Interpol delegation to Russia will not be able to reimburse the money.

“Those who are retireable within one year have returned the amount to the PNP, only two who are not retireable are authorized to have that travel allowance,” said Hilomen.