‘Euro general’ gets 24-hour furlough

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan has granted detained former Philippine National Police (PNP) comptroller Eliseo dela Paz a 24-hour furlough for him to attend the wake and funeral of his deceased mother.

 Dela Paz is facing graft and malversation of public funds charges before the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division for his alleged involvement in the ghost repair of 28 V-150 light armored vehicles in 2007 when more than P409.7 million in government funds were irregularly spent.

He is being held without bail in Camp Crame along with 21 other former and incumbent police officials, including former PNP chief Avelino Razon Jr.

In a two-page order, the anti-graft court allowed Dela Paz to leave his detention facility from 3 p.m. yesterday to 3 p.m. today for him to “attend the wake and interment of his deceased mother Dominga dela Paz at the chapel of Villamor Airbase in Pasay City and Heritage Park in Taguig City, respectively.”

 Fourth Division magistrates headed by Associate Justice Jose Hernandez directed the PNP custodial center to place Dela Paz under tight guard during the furlough and “bring him back to his place of confinement not later than 5 p.m. of Oct. 25.”

Dela Paz is also facing other cases before the Sandiganbayan for his alleged role in other anomalies, including the Euro generals scandal in 2008.

 He and his wife Maria Fe are on trial for violating a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Circular after being caught carrying 105,000 euros or P6.9 million in Moscow, Russia. The Dela Paz couple was with a PNP delegation who attended an Interpol Assembly in St. Petersburg when they were barred from leaving the Shremetyevo International Airport four years ago.