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6 cops in 'Euro Generals' controversy suspended


Six senior police officers linked to the "Euro Generals" controversy were ordered "preventively suspended" by Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez while they are being investigated over their controversial trip to Russia two years ago. The suspension order did not cover all 11 police officials who came along for the trip to Moscow because some of them have already retired, including former police Director Eliseo dela Paz. The officials who were suspended without pay were Superintendent Samuel Rodriguez, Chief Superintendent Orlando Pestaño, recently promoted Chief Superintendent Tomas Rentoy III, Superintendent Elmer Pelobello, and Directors German Doria and Silverio Alarcio Jr. In October 2008, the active and retired police officials flew to Moscow for the 77th International Police Organization (Interpol) General Assembly in St. Petersburg. However, Dela Paz and his wife were briefly detained and interrogated at the Moscow International Airport in Russia for carrying a large sum of undeclared money — 105,000 euros (P6.9 million). It was later found out that De la Paz was allegedly carrying P9.2 million— P2.9 million for travel expenses and P6.9 million for contingencies. "Pelobello allegedly prepared the computation of the travel allowances of the delegates without consideration on the limits provided in the required daily subsistence allowance (DSA), Rules on austerity measures (Administrative Order No. 13) and one-year travel ban for retiring PNP officials," Gutierrez said. "Rodriguez, Rentoy and Pestano allegedly disbursed PNP Confidential and Intelligence Funds which were their identified source of the seized currency from the Dela Paz spouses. However, the seized amount was found to be of private source which was not duly declared by dela Paz in his [statement of assets, liabilities and net worth]," she added. Apart from Dela Paz, the other "Euro Generals" who already retired were Deputy Director General Emmanuel Carta, Deputy Director General Ismael Rafanan, and Directors Romeo Ricardo, and Jaime Caringal. Last month, the the Office of the Ombudsman's Field Investigation Office (FIO) filed graft charges against them and former police chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. for allegedly violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Razon was the PNP chief when the funds for the trip were approved, but the Moscow airport mess happened in October 2008, a month after Razon was already replaced by Director General Jesus Verzosa. Gutierrez has already directed Verzosa to "immediately implement" the suspension order. –VVP/KBK, GMANews.TV

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