PNP still waiting for Moscow to return seized euros

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is still waiting for the return of the 105,000 euros or P6.9 million seized by the airport authorities in Moscow from retired police comptroller Director Eliseo dela Paz last Oct. 11.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said the PNP has submitted its final draft of its new policies on foreign travel for police officers.

 Verzosa said the PNP complied with all the requirements of both houses of Congress in connection with the trip of the PNP officials, who attended the annual International Police Conference in St. Petersburg in Russia last October.

Police officials religiously attended all the hearings conducted by the lawmakers.

“We hope that we have already given all our individual testimonies and the facts of the case and they already have some resolution in mind and for our part, we have already endorsed our records of the case to the Ombudsman, which is now conducting its own investigation,” Verzosa said.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said they have yet to receive any word from the Russian government about the money, which was reportedly taken by Dela Paz from the PNP intelligence funds without proper authority.

“We are still waiting. We have to understand the process being done by the Russian government,” said Bartolome.

In an earlier interview, Bartolome said the PNP request for an official report by the Russian government on the incident remained unanswered, but the PNP cannot do anything but to wait.

Verzosa said he is banking on the statement of Dela Paz’s Russia-based lawyer that the seized 105,000 euros or P6.9 million will be returned to the PNP soon.   – Cecille Suerte Felipe