Dela Paz ordered arrested for snubbing Senate hearing
JOHANNA CAMILLE SISANTE, GMANews.TV
10/23/2008 | 10:12 AM
(Updated 12:21 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - Administration Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Thursday ordered the arrest of retired police Director Eliseo dela Paz for snubbing the Senate probe on the P6.9-million Moscow mess.
Santiago, who chairs the Senate foreign relations committee, vented her ire on dela Paz's lawyers, rejecting their explanations for the retired police officer's absence at the Senate hearing.
"I command you...arrest him now and bring him (dela Paz) here if possible," Santiago told Senate sergeant-at-arms retired Gen. Jose Balajadia Jr.
Balajadia told GMANews.TV in a phone interview that they will enact Santiago's order "anytime soon" once Santiago signs the official arrest papers, adding that they are set to deploy one team to all of dela Paz's known addresses.
During the hearing, Santiago reminded dela Paz's lawyer Noel Malaya that they as lawyers are not allowed to participate in the Senate proceeding.
"You are not allowed in any manner to participate and you are subject to punitive sanction," she said.
She also rejected Malaya's statement that they "deemed it best" for dela Paz not to attend the hearing.
No jurisdiction
Malaya said dela Paz's camp is questioning the Senate foreign relations committee's jurisdiction over the investigation.
He told reporters after exiting the session hall that they are set to file later during the day a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court to block the foreign relations panel from conducting the probe.
"We believe that this committee has no jurisdiction on the incident. One incident lang yung involved, it is the incident in Moscow. It is a local issue as far as my client is concerned," Malaya said.
"Dapat PNP mag-oorder kung meron mang sanction kay dela Paz, at most forfeiture of sum," Malaya said. "There is nothing criminal on what he did. Nagkaron lang ng lapse na hindi ideclare."
He said that the only Senate panels who should investigate the issue are the committees on public safety and order or finance because they concern the Philippine National Police (PNP) and money matters, respectively.
Malaya said dela Paz decided not to attend the Senate hearing upon consultation with layers after receiving the Senate subpoena Wednesday afternoon.
Verzosa, Puno present
On the other hand, PNP officials led by Director General Jesus Verzosa and Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno were present at the hearing.
Verzosa, along with Armed Forces chief General Alexander Yano, is dela Paz's batchmate at the Philippine Military Academy class of 1976.
Also present during the hearing were officials of the Manila International Airport Authority and the Bureau of Immigration.
As of posting time, the hearing was ongoing.
On Wednesday, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome assured the complete attendance of its senior police officials on the Senate investigation on the so-called Moscow mess.
"We expect them all to attend, including our chief PNP and retired police Director Eliseo dela Paz," Bartolome said.
While he could not speak for Dela Paz, who is already retired from the service, Bartolome said they were given assurance by the official himself that he will attend any investigation to clear not only his name but also of the PNP as an organization.
Dela Paz and his wife were held by Russian authorities last week for carrying undeclared cash amounting to 105,000 euros (P6.9 million). He was part of the eight-man PNP delegation that attended the recent 77th International Police (Interpol) General Assembly in St. Petersburg. - with reports from Amita Legaspi and Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV
Santiago, who chairs the Senate foreign relations committee, vented her ire on dela Paz's lawyers, rejecting their explanations for the retired police officer's absence at the Senate hearing.
"I command you...arrest him now and bring him (dela Paz) here if possible," Santiago told Senate sergeant-at-arms retired Gen. Jose Balajadia Jr.
Balajadia told GMANews.TV in a phone interview that they will enact Santiago's order "anytime soon" once Santiago signs the official arrest papers, adding that they are set to deploy one team to all of dela Paz's known addresses.
During the hearing, Santiago reminded dela Paz's lawyer Noel Malaya that they as lawyers are not allowed to participate in the Senate proceeding.
"You are not allowed in any manner to participate and you are subject to punitive sanction," she said.
She also rejected Malaya's statement that they "deemed it best" for dela Paz not to attend the hearing.
No jurisdiction
Malaya said dela Paz's camp is questioning the Senate foreign relations committee's jurisdiction over the investigation.
He told reporters after exiting the session hall that they are set to file later during the day a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court to block the foreign relations panel from conducting the probe.
"We believe that this committee has no jurisdiction on the incident. One incident lang yung involved, it is the incident in Moscow. It is a local issue as far as my client is concerned," Malaya said.
"Dapat PNP mag-oorder kung meron mang sanction kay dela Paz, at most forfeiture of sum," Malaya said. "There is nothing criminal on what he did. Nagkaron lang ng lapse na hindi ideclare."
He said that the only Senate panels who should investigate the issue are the committees on public safety and order or finance because they concern the Philippine National Police (PNP) and money matters, respectively.
Malaya said dela Paz decided not to attend the Senate hearing upon consultation with layers after receiving the Senate subpoena Wednesday afternoon.
Verzosa, Puno present
On the other hand, PNP officials led by Director General Jesus Verzosa and Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno were present at the hearing.
Verzosa, along with Armed Forces chief General Alexander Yano, is dela Paz's batchmate at the Philippine Military Academy class of 1976.
Also present during the hearing were officials of the Manila International Airport Authority and the Bureau of Immigration.
As of posting time, the hearing was ongoing.
On Wednesday, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome assured the complete attendance of its senior police officials on the Senate investigation on the so-called Moscow mess.
"We expect them all to attend, including our chief PNP and retired police Director Eliseo dela Paz," Bartolome said.
While he could not speak for Dela Paz, who is already retired from the service, Bartolome said they were given assurance by the official himself that he will attend any investigation to clear not only his name but also of the PNP as an organization.
Dela Paz and his wife were held by Russian authorities last week for carrying undeclared cash amounting to 105,000 euros (P6.9 million). He was part of the eight-man PNP delegation that attended the recent 77th International Police (Interpol) General Assembly in St. Petersburg. - with reports from Amita Legaspi and Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV
