Senate orders arrest of ex-police official in cash scandal
11/12/2008 | 03:21 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The Senate on Tuesday ordered the arrest of a retired police official who snubbed the chamber’s investigation into a multi-million-peso cash scandal.
Senate President Manuel B. Villar, Jr. Tuesday ordered Senate Sergeant-at-Arms retired Maj. Gen. Jose V. Balajadia, Jr. to serve the arrest warrant against Eliseo D. dela Paz, former Philippine National Police comptroller.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, chairman of the committee on foreign relations, cited Mr. dela Paz in contempt after the former police official did not attend the Oct. 23 hearing, saying the committee has no jurisdiction to investigate the issue.
More than 10 senators of the 15-member committee signed the warrant.
Mr. Dela Paz was accosted by Russian authorities on Oct. 11 after it was learned that he carried €105,000 or P6.9 million, more than the required amount of $10,000 (roughly €7,700 or P480,000) for all international travelers. The money, according to authorities, was provided as "contingency fund" for the delegates of the 77th International Police (Interpol) Assembly at St. Petersburg in Moscow, Russia on Oct. 6-10.
Other officials who attended the conference were Deputy Director-General Emmanuel R. Carta, deputy chief for administration; Director German B. Doria, head for human resource and doctrine development; Deputy Director-General Ismael R. Rafanan, chief directorial staff; Director Silverio D. Alarcio, Jr., director for operations; Supt. Elmer Pelobello, deputy chief for operations; Director Romeo T. Ricardo, director for plans; and then Region 9 director Jaime Caringal.
It was learned during the Senate hearing that PNP Chief Director-General Jesus A. Versoza and Interior Secretary and National Police Commission (Napolcom) Chairman Ronaldo V. Puno did not authorize the cash advance.
The PNP fact-finding panel has released its report that acquitted other officials involved in the incident. The case of Mr. Dela Paz and three other junior officers connected to the finance service has been forwarded to the Ombudsman.
The foreign relations committee will resume on Nov. 15 the investigation with the committee on accountability of public officers and investigations (Blue Ribbon) chaired by Senator Alan Peter S. Cayetano.
Meanwhile, the retirement benefits of two former police officials involved in the alleged anomalous Russia trip will be withheld pending an ongoing probe, the Napolcom said Tuesday.
In statement, Napolcom said they will withhold the benefits of Mr. Dela Paz and retired Region 9 director Jaime Caringal "until they satisfactorily explain and settle their government accountability in connection with official trip in Moscow last month."
Messrs. Dela Paz and Caringal were two of eight senior PNP officers who attended the Interpol event.
Napolcom said a committee headed by Manuel Fontanal ha been formed to investigate the Moscow incident. The members are Director Conrado Sumanga, Jr. and Owen de Luna.
"We will seek the criminal prosecution of Mr. Dela Paz should he fail to fully explain and account for what appeared to have been an irregular withdrawal and use of PNP intelligence funds for the official trip," the statement reads.
The Napolcom committee will also conduct lifestyle checks on the other members of the PNP delegation, including the wives of police officials who joined the trip.
The panel questioned the use of intelligence funds, instead of programmed travel allocation, to cover the travel expenses and allowances of each official worth P274,070.
The committee will also look into reports that Mr. Dela Paz had carried an additional €45,000 (P2.9 million) during the trip. The money was reportedly owned by a certain Tyrone Ng Arejola.
"It is unusual for a high-ranking police officer like Dela Paz to be carrying funds purportedly owned by a private individual for the purchase of expensive items that may expose said police officer to possible charges of impropriety or unexplained wealth," the committee noted. — B. U. Allauigan and E. T. Marcelo, BusinessWorld
Senate President Manuel B. Villar, Jr. Tuesday ordered Senate Sergeant-at-Arms retired Maj. Gen. Jose V. Balajadia, Jr. to serve the arrest warrant against Eliseo D. dela Paz, former Philippine National Police comptroller.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, chairman of the committee on foreign relations, cited Mr. dela Paz in contempt after the former police official did not attend the Oct. 23 hearing, saying the committee has no jurisdiction to investigate the issue.
More than 10 senators of the 15-member committee signed the warrant.
Mr. Dela Paz was accosted by Russian authorities on Oct. 11 after it was learned that he carried €105,000 or P6.9 million, more than the required amount of $10,000 (roughly €7,700 or P480,000) for all international travelers. The money, according to authorities, was provided as "contingency fund" for the delegates of the 77th International Police (Interpol) Assembly at St. Petersburg in Moscow, Russia on Oct. 6-10.
Other officials who attended the conference were Deputy Director-General Emmanuel R. Carta, deputy chief for administration; Director German B. Doria, head for human resource and doctrine development; Deputy Director-General Ismael R. Rafanan, chief directorial staff; Director Silverio D. Alarcio, Jr., director for operations; Supt. Elmer Pelobello, deputy chief for operations; Director Romeo T. Ricardo, director for plans; and then Region 9 director Jaime Caringal.
It was learned during the Senate hearing that PNP Chief Director-General Jesus A. Versoza and Interior Secretary and National Police Commission (Napolcom) Chairman Ronaldo V. Puno did not authorize the cash advance.
The PNP fact-finding panel has released its report that acquitted other officials involved in the incident. The case of Mr. Dela Paz and three other junior officers connected to the finance service has been forwarded to the Ombudsman.
The foreign relations committee will resume on Nov. 15 the investigation with the committee on accountability of public officers and investigations (Blue Ribbon) chaired by Senator Alan Peter S. Cayetano.
Meanwhile, the retirement benefits of two former police officials involved in the alleged anomalous Russia trip will be withheld pending an ongoing probe, the Napolcom said Tuesday.
In statement, Napolcom said they will withhold the benefits of Mr. Dela Paz and retired Region 9 director Jaime Caringal "until they satisfactorily explain and settle their government accountability in connection with official trip in Moscow last month."
Messrs. Dela Paz and Caringal were two of eight senior PNP officers who attended the Interpol event.
Napolcom said a committee headed by Manuel Fontanal ha been formed to investigate the Moscow incident. The members are Director Conrado Sumanga, Jr. and Owen de Luna.
"We will seek the criminal prosecution of Mr. Dela Paz should he fail to fully explain and account for what appeared to have been an irregular withdrawal and use of PNP intelligence funds for the official trip," the statement reads.
The Napolcom committee will also conduct lifestyle checks on the other members of the PNP delegation, including the wives of police officials who joined the trip.
The panel questioned the use of intelligence funds, instead of programmed travel allocation, to cover the travel expenses and allowances of each official worth P274,070.
The committee will also look into reports that Mr. Dela Paz had carried an additional €45,000 (P2.9 million) during the trip. The money was reportedly owned by a certain Tyrone Ng Arejola.
"It is unusual for a high-ranking police officer like Dela Paz to be carrying funds purportedly owned by a private individual for the purchase of expensive items that may expose said police officer to possible charges of impropriety or unexplained wealth," the committee noted. — B. U. Allauigan and E. T. Marcelo, BusinessWorld
