Arrest warrants out for 'euro general,' wife

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan has issued arrest warrants against former Philippine National Police (PNP) comptroller Eliseo de la Paz and his wife Maria Fe.

Associate Justice Roland Jurado, chairman of the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division, signed the arrest orders yesterday afternoon.

De la Paz and his wife are both facing criminal charges for violating Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Circular No. 507, which penalizes any person who brings into or takes out of the Philippines foreign currency in excess of $10,000 and fails to declare the same in writing.

The Sandiganbayan set the bail at P20,000 each for De la Paz and his wife.

The De la Paz couple was arrested at the Shremetyevo International Airport in Moscow for carrying 105,000 euros or P6.9 million cash.

The couple was with other top PNP officials and their wives who attended the 77th International Police (Interpol) General Assembly held in St. Petersburg, Russia in October 2008.

De la Paz is also facing a second case for allegedly violating Article 237 of the Revised Penal Code which penalizes acts of “Prolonging the Performance of Duties and Powers.”

In filing charges against him, the Office of the Ombudsman said the former PNP official still attended the Interpol General Assembly despite knowing full well that he reached the compulsory age of retirement of 56 on October 9, 2008.

For this offense, the Sandiganbayan said De la Paz needs to post an additional bail bond of P6,000 in order to enjoy temporary release from jail while facing trial.

“After a careful assessment of the records, the documents and other evidence submitted together with the information of the above-entitled cases, the Court finds the existence of probable cause and so orders the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the accused,” the anti-graft court said.

Copies of the arrest warrants were sent today to the PNP, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and other law enforcement agencies.

Of the twelve police officials investigated in the controversial Interpol controversy who were later called the Euro Generals, only De la Paz and his wife were eventually charged by the Office of the Ombudsman.