DILG chief says euro general 'has a lot of explaining to do'

(Update) MANILA, Philippines - After defending Eliseo de la Paz, the retired PNP director implicated in the Moscow mess, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno on Monday sang a different tune, saying Dela Paz has a lot of explaining to do once he arrives home Tuesday. De la Paz might have been cleared by Russian customs authorities, but he is not off the hook yet as far as the Philippine law is concerned, Puno said in an interview with Steve Dailisan, which was aired on Monday over GMA News' 24 Oras, the early evening newscast of GMA Network. "Magiging sunod na tanong natin: Okey, nakalusot sila doon sa imbestigasyon sa customs ng ibang bansa. Tingnan naman natin ang patakaran ng Philippine National Police (PNP) kung naisunod ba nila yan. Baka naman naglabag sila ng ibang patakaran ng PNP," Puno, who is also the chairman of the National Police Commission (Napolcom), said. Before this, on Oct. 15, Puno defended the group which attended the Oct 7 to 11 International Police (Interpol) general assembly in St. Petersburg, saying there was nothing irregular with 105,000 euros carried by Dela Paz. Puno said that the money was from the PNP’s “official fund" and that it was “legal and documented." Puno explained that Dela Paz - the retired PNP comptroller - was carrying the funds because he was the assigned disbursement officer of the PNP’s eight-man delegation to the Interpol. Puno added that the money will be subject to liquidation. "That was a cash advance which is for liquidation. Pag balik nila (when he returns) that amount will be liquidated," he said then. Puno assures no VIP treatment for Dela Paz Earlier Monday, Puno also told PNP members that no special treatment would be applied to Dela Paz upon his arrival on Tuesday. Puno also welcomed all those who wanted to conduct an investigation on the Moscow scandal – like the Senate probe proposed by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. Puno said he would be willing to assist the investigation by handing out necessary information. But he stressed that he would not attend the investigation, because as Napolcom chief he might have to preside over the investigation of the police officials. "Yeah, I will appear. But let’s remember I'm chairman of Napolcom also and I have jurisdiction over the administrative violations here. So I cannot appear anywhere and pre-judge this thing before the presentation of proper evidence," Puno said. Following the Moscow mess, various sectors vowed to investigate the so-called “euro generals" in order to shed light on the issue. Both Houses to grill the ‘euro generals’ On Monday afternoon, Santiago formally filed before the Senate a resolution seeking to investigate those who were implicated in the Moscow mess. In filing Senate Resolution no. 724, Santiago - who chairs the Senate committee of foreign relations - said she wants the Senate to look into why Dela Paz and his wife were carrying an undeclared amount of 105,000 euros (P6.9 million) during their Russia stint. Moreover, Santiago added that she expects to find out if the expenses incurred by the officials' spouses during the Russia trip were also shouldered by the government. Santiago clarified that so-called euro generals cannot hide under the blanket of executive privilege since they do not meet any of the conditions set by the Supreme Court that will warrant such invocation. In the House of Representatives, meanwhile, Rep. Teddy Casiño, said he would file a resolution this week to probe the mess. Casiño said he was preparing a resolution to initiate a congressional inquiry into the same incident. “Exactly how much was the general's 'baon'? Is this common practice? Was the amount discovered a 'kotong' or a commission for some contract?" Casiño asked. The lawmaker added that at this time of economic hardship, the incident was a “shameless abuse of taxpayers' money." COA will conduct its own probe too COA also announced on Monday that it will investigate the cash scandal involving the police officials. COA chairman Reynaldo Villar said there are possible violations of the law and issues of "propriety" when Dela Paz allegedly brought out of the country 105,000 euros (P6.9 million dollars) in "contingency funds" to Moscow. Citing Section 12 of Executive Order 248, Villar said a public official on official business abroad is only given a travel allowance of $100 and $200 hotel room and lodging per day. Villar said this may be increased according to the living conditions in the destination country, but said that for Moscow, a ceiling of only $465 a day is allowed. "Personal mo na ho kung lumagpas ka sa binigay na yun," said Villar, adding that no budget should be allocated for the officials' wives. And the Ombudsman The row involving the “euro generals" also attracted the attention of the Office of the Ombudsman, prompting Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to form a five-man panel to probe the scandal. Among the questions Gutierrez wanted the “euro generals" to answer were: 1. Where did the “contingency funds" come from? 2. Was it properly appropriated? 3. Is the amount of 105,000 euros justifiable for eight-man PNP delegation? “I don’t know why we should be sending a lot of people coming from one agency – and then accompanied by the wives or spouses. What impression does that give to the public?" she said. ‘Euro general’ wires back funds To avoid further “torture," Dela Paz sent back the “contingency funds" back to the PNP ahead of his return. For his part, Puno said that Dela Paz had personally requested that the funds in his possession be sent back to the Philippines through wire transfer. Puno also said that the former police official sent back the money directly to the account of the PNP. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV