Another ‘euro general’ retires amid probe into mess

MANILA, Philippines – Another one of the police officers included in the "euro generals" controversy retired Thursday - more than a month before he was supposed to bow out of service and amid ongoing congressional investigations into the mess. A report on dzBB radio said PNP's deputy chief for administration Deputy Director General Emmanuel Carta availed of early retirement ahead of his scheduled retirement on January 1, 2009 when he reaches the mandatory age requirement of 56. Carta belongs to the Philippine Military Academy class of 1974 and a classmate of former PNP chief Avelino Razon Jr. Carta is among the PNP’s eight-man delegation to the 77th Interpol Conference held in Moscow, Russia last Oct. 7 to 10. He is the third PNP officials embroiled in the mess to have retired. Former comptroller Eliseo Dela Paz retired on October 9 while in the middle of the Moscow trip, while former Region 9 police chief Jaime Caringal retired on November 5 shortly after arriving from the trip. The PNP officials involved in the controversy who remain in active service are: Deputy Director General Ismael Rafanan, Director Romeo Ricardo, Director Silverio Alarcio Jr, Director German Doria, and Superintendent Elmer Pelobello. The so-called “euro generals" scandal broke out when Dela Paz and his wife, Maria Fe, were held at the Moscow International Airport on October 11 for holding an undeclared amount of 105,000 euros or P6.9 million pesos in cash advances, which was excessive of what was allowed. Dela Paz, Caringal, and Carta were included in the delegation in spite of a memorandum on official foreign travel issued by the National Police Commission which provides that priority shall be given to all those who are 45 years old and below, and also qualified candidates who do not have previous training. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV