Not too fast: Ombudsman says ex-PNP comptroller not off the hook yet

MANILA, Philippines - Despite the impending return of €105,000, retired Philippine National Police (PNP) comptroller Director Eliseo de la Paz is not yet off the hook for irregularities in the "Euro Generals" mess. In a press statement, Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni said the panel investigating the Euro Generals controversy has not yet absolved dela Paz and the other generals of any wrongdoing. Jalandoni was reacting to an earlier pronouncement by the PNP that all accountabilities of Dela Paz would be cleared once the amount seized by Russian authorities is returned to the PNP bank account. "Even if the Philippine National Police (PNP) gets back the 105,000 euros or P6.9 million seized by the Russian authorities, the Office of the Ombudsman cannot yet absolve dela Paz and the other generals of any wrongdoing," Jalandoni said in an article on the Ombudsman website. Jalandoni noted that the panel handling the case has not issued a resolution on the case, and has yet to take into consideration this recent development. Dela Paz was part of the eight-member PNP delegation to the 77th International Police Organization (Interpol) General Assembly held in Russia in October last year. However, Dela Paz and his wife, Maria Fe, were held at the Moscow airport on October 11 for carrying an undeclared amount of 105,000 euros or P6.9 million in “cash advances." Earlier this week, Dela Paz' lawyer Noel Malaya said the 105,000 euros will be remitted to the Philippines from Russia, but in installments. This prompted an announcement from PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome, saying: “General Dela Paz will be cleared by the PNP once the entire amount is transmitted to the account of the PNP." To recall, the Office of the Ombudsman started an investigation into dela Paz's alleged unauthorized release of the intelligence funds seized by Russian authorities in Moscow last October. The probe focuses on the nature of the funds, how much exactly they were, what they were for, and whether the process in securing or releasing them is proper. Also, it looked into the propriety of allowing dela Paz, a retiree, to attend the said conference and the act of bringing their wives along with them in the said event. The panel chaired by Jalandoni includes Director Lito Fangon, Director Elvira Chua, Catherine Pascua and Field Investigator Ryan dela Peña. - GMANews.TV