PNP comptroller: No retirement benefits for Dela Paz yet

MANILA, Philippines - Despite shelling out own money just to complete the payment of the P6.9 million seized from him in Russia, ex-police comptroller Eliseo dela Paz could not enjoy his retirement benefits just yet. Incumbent Philippine National Police (PNP) comptroller Chief Superintendent Romeo Hilomen said Dela Paz might have evaded possible civil charges but that does not spare his retirement benefits from being withheld. In a radio report, Hilomen said the PNP will first have to await the results of the investigation of the Office of the Ombudsman on the so-called “euro generals" controversy, before deciding whether or not to award Dela Paz with his benefits. The Ombudsman had already said it would soon announce what administrative charges it would be filing against Dela Paz. Dela Paz on Monday afternoon paid the PNP a balance of 65,000 euros to avoid looming civil charges against him. The amount was an addition to the 40,000 euros that had already been returned to the Philippines by Russian authorities. Airport officials in Russia in October 2008 held Dela Paz and his wife for not declaring the 105,000 euros they were carrying. Dela Paz would later insist the money was only part of the “contingency fund" that PNP officials carried with them to Moscow when they attended the 77th Interpol Assembly from October 6 to 11. In installments of 10,000 euros per transaction, the seized money was slowly returned to the Philippines. But over the weekend, PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa – noticing the slow pace of the transfer – gave Dela Paz only until Monday to complete the payment or risk being civilly charged. With a deadline set and an impending case against him, Dela Paz was forced to dig into his pockets and paid off the remaining 65,000 euros.- Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV