PNP hurting over ‘Euro Generals’ tag - official

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) hierarchy is sore over the "Euro Generals" tag that some of its officials got in the wake of a P6.9-million scandal in Moscow involving its retired comptroller. In an interview on dzBB radio, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome appealed to the public not to call police generals such names as he insisted there was nothing irregular about the money. "Sana naman hindi ganoon ang tawag. Itong pondo, properly received ng disbursing officer. Tinanggap niya bilang accounting officer (We hope people don't refer to our officials by that name. The funds were properly received)," Bartolome said. Last weekend, retired PNP comptroller Director Eliseo dela Paz and his wife were held in a Moscow airport for failing to declare some 105,000 euros or an estimated P6.9 million. Dela Paz and his wife were part of a PNP contingent to a recently concluded International Police Organization (Interpol) gathering. Bartolome said that as of Thursday afternoon, the documents "clearing" dela Paz and explaining the "above-board" nature of the money had been submitted to Russian authorities. He said that as of Friday morning Manila time, the PNP has yet to receive an advisory on when dela Paz and his wife can leave Moscow. "Kailangang i-liquidate niya lahat na received niya (He will have to account for the entire amount upon his return)," Bartolome said. - GMANews.TV