'Euro general' to retire Wednesday

MANILA, Philippines – One of the “euro generals" implicated in the P6.9-million Moscow scandal is set to retire Wednesday. Philippine National Police regional director Director Jaime Caringal, who has reached the mandatory retirement age of 56, will be replaced by Chief Superintendent Angelo Sunglao. The turn-over ceremony will take place at Camp Colonel Romeo Abendan in Zamboanga City in western Mindanao at 10 a.m. Wednesday, PO3 Ella Mae Llanes oi the Region 9 police told GMANews.TV in a phone interview. Caringal was among several officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) delegation who came under fire for incurring “cash advances" of 105,000 euros (P6.9 million) when they attended the 77th Interpol Assembly in St. Petersburg on October 7-10. The irregular practice was exposed when customs officials at the Moscow airport detained former PNP comptroller Eliseo dela Paz, who had already retired from the service, for not declaring the huge amount of money in his possession. Dela Paz was subsequently released after the PNP certified the purpose of the money. But Dela Paz is under investigation by the Senate. Dela Paz, Caringal and PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa are all members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1976. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV