Ex-police official to appear in Senate

MANILA, Philippines - An embattled retired police official will appear before the Senate Friday in compliance with the arrest order issued against him by the Senate. In a phone interview, former Philippine National Police director for comptrollership Eliseo D. dela Paz’s legal counsel Noel Malaya said his client will attend the Senate probe on Saturday. "He called me today, instructing me to assure the Senate and the media that he will present himself before the Senate on Friday just in time for the probe," Mr. Malaya said. He said Mr. dela Paz was out of town since last week to visit his relatives in La Union and Bataan provinces, and was not in any way attempting to evade the Senate probe. On Oct. 23, Mr. dela Paz, snub the Senate committee on foreign relations probe since it was not the proper committee to handle the case. This prompted committee chairman Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago to cite him in contempt and ordered him arrested. Majority of the committee on Monday affirmed the arrest order. He said he has also appealed before the Senate to excuse Mr. dela Paz’ wife Maria Fe from attending the probe. The Senate has subpoenaed Mrs. dela Paz for Saturday’s probe. "We hope Mrs. dela Paz can be excused on the probe. She is a private individual," Mr. Malaya said. He said they will receive the response of the Senate Friday. The Senate’s probe stemmed from the undeclared €105,000 (P6.9 million) seized from Mr. dela Paz by customs officials of Moscow International Airport last month. - BusinessWorld