Ombudsman reaffirms suspension of 6 cops in ‘Euro Generals’ mess

The Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday reaffirmed its decision suspending six police officials for six months without pay while they are being investigated over their controversial Moscow trip in 2008. Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez denied the motion for reconsideration filed by one of the so-called “Euro Generals" — Police Director Tomas Rentoy III — who cited lack of actual and legal basis for the suspension. “There exists no sufficient ground to reverse the Order placing the respondent-movant under preventive suspension for a period of six months without pay," said Gutierrez in her 13-page order. Aside from Rentoy, also suspended were Special Disbursing Officer Samuel Rodriguez, Finance Service Director Orlando Pestaño, Police Superintendent Elmel Pelobello, Directorate for Human Resources and Doctrine Development Director German Doria, and Directorate for Operations Director Silverio Alarcio. The six officers are facing charges of grave misconduct, dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service for their allegedly anomalous trip to Moscow for the 77th International Police Organization (Interpol) General Assembly in 2008. The suspension order did not cover all 11 police officials who came along for the trip because some of them have retired, including former police Director Eliseo dela Paz, the group’s disbursement officer. On their way out of Russia, De la Paz and his wife were detained at the Moscow international airport for carrying 105,000 euros (P6.9 million) in undeclared cash in excess of the allowable limit. It was later revealed that he was actually carrying P9.2 million — P2.9 million for travel expenses and P6.9 million for contingencies. The group was accused of receiving travel allowances in the amounts more than the daily subsistence allowance permitted by the prevailing rules, and falsifying the acknowledgment receipts covering their travel allowances that were charged against the Philippine National Police in the liquidation of their expenses. - KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV