PNP can't compel Caringal to comply with Russia's order - spokesman

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police has lost its power to compel police Director Jaime Caringal to appear before Russia’s probe on the confiscated 105,000 euros since he has officially left police service. PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said they have officially lost jurisdiction over Caringal when he bowed out of service Wednesday after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56. “So by said retirement, you cannot have jurisdiction anymore in so far as answering any particular invitation or queries concerned. The PNP will only be very particular with those who are still within our jurisdiction,” Bartolome said. Russian authorities have ordered Caringal and Cynthia Verzosa, wife of PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa, to appear before their investigation on the undeclared amount of euros brought by former police comptroller Eliseo dela Paz when he joined the PNP delegation for an International Police (Interpol) assembly in St. Petersburg last month. The order was confirmed Wednesday by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Claro Cristobal. He said the order was contained in a letter sent to the Philippine Ambassador to Russia dated October 31. Bartolome however refused to comment on Russia’s invitation for Mrs Verzosa to appear before the investigation, saying it would be better if she would be the one to give a statement on the matter. “It would be appropriate if the person concerned will be the one to answer the question, considering that she is not an official member of the PNP organization,” Bartolome said. Bartolome said he had already discussed the issue with Verzosa, who reportedly said they have to see the summon from Russian authorities first before commenting on the issue. To recall, the 105,000 euros was seized from Dela Paz while he and his wife were on their way home from the 77th Interpol General Assembly. The money, equivalent to P6.9 million, was reportedly withdrawn by Dela Paz from the PNP intelligence fund and subsequently converted it to euros to be used allegedly as contingency fund for the PNP delegation to the conference. - GMANews.TV