Verzosa suspension sought during probe

By Gerry Baldo

11/03/2008

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. yesterday called for the suspension of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director Gen. Jesus Verzosa during the duration of the Senate investigation into the so-called euro generals incident involving P6.9 million in seized money in Moscow.

Aside from the Senate, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Office of the Ombudsman have all indicated that separate probes will be made on the incident.

Pimentel said Verzosa’s suspension would prevent the police official from influencing the results of the different probes.

Sen. Manuel Roxas II also said he has asked Russian authorities to provide information to help the Senate in its ongoing investigation into the “euro generals” controversy.

In a letter to Russian Ambassador Vitaliy Vorobiev, Roxas sought copies of official reports and other relevant documents

related to the Russian customs authorities’ detention of retired PNP comptroller Eliseo De La Paz and his wife after the police general was caught with 105,000 euros or P6.9 million worth of undeclared cash.

Early last October, airport officials in Moscow, Russia temporarily detained former PNP comptroller, Eliseo dela Paz, and his wife, after they were caught in possession of undeclared 100,000 euros.

Members of the progressive bloc in the House of Representatives, meanwhile, expressed doubts on the DILG investigation on the controversy surrounding the “contingency funds” of several police officials who attended the conference hosted by the International Police in Leningrad, Russia.

Bayan Muna Reps. Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casino said the decision of Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino, chairman of the House committee on public order and security, to shelve a House investigation into the issue was uncalled for.

Pimentel added the PNP leadership used various alibis for the mess, initially alleging that the money was from the contingency fund.

The PNP officials later claimed it was a cash advance, Pimentel added.

In a letter, Verzosa also told the Senate committee on foreign relations chaired by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, that the money was meant for the purchase of intelligence equipment.

Casiño and Ocampo had filed House Resolution No. 843 to call for a House probe into the controversy.

Antonino said that the House investigation should be suspended until after the PNP, the National Police Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman had finished its investigation.

“The House should have its own inquiry. There were a lot of questions that were needed to be asked and the only venue for this are congressional inquiries. We can expect Napolcom to contradict DILG’s position,” Casiño said yesterday.

Ocampo, for his part, underscored the need for the House to conduct its own investigation.

“The inquiry in the House is dimmer, if we wait for the results of all three investigations. The House should have an investigation of its own, independent of all other inquiries,” Ocampo said.

PNP chief jesus Verzosa had already recommended the filing of criminal charges against PNP Finance Service head Chief Supt. Orlando Pestano; Budget Division Chief of the Directorate for Comptrollership Senior Supt. Tomas Rentoy and Disbursing Officer of the Directorate for Intelligence Supt. Samuel Rodriguez.

Those who traveled with De la Paz to the Interpol Assembly were: Director general Emmanuel Carta, deputy chief for administration; director general Ismael Rafanan, deputy chief for operations; Romeo Ricardo, director of directorate for plans; German Doria, director for human resources and doctrine development; Zamboanga regional director Jaime Caringal; director for operations Silverio Alarcio Jr.; and Superintendent Elmer Pellobello.

Roxas is acting chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee that ordered the arrest of De La Paz after the retired police official snubbed its investigation into the controversy.

“I am particularly interested if any charge has been filed in Russia against PNP Director De La Paz,” he noted in his letter to Vorobiev.

“We asked the help of the Russians in getting information on this controversy. They started this case when they arrested one of our police generals, and they may have additional information that will complete the Senate investigation,” he said.

Roxas said the Senate foreign relations committee would push the arrest of De La Paz to make him testify on the issue.

“De La Paz’s testimony is needed so we can complete legislation like on the use of intelligence funds that would prevent a repeat of this embarrassing incident,” he said.*

Roxas also reiterated his call for a Senate caucus even during the legislative break to discuss its action on the euro generals controversy.

Back to top

For comments about this website:Webmaster@tribune.net.ph
The Daily Tribune © 2006