Questions raised over P7M travel fund of PNP delegation
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/16/2008 12:42 AM
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Questions have come up regarding the 105,000 euros or P6.9 million cash that a recently-retired Philippine National Police (PNP) comptroller failed to declare before customs authorities of Russia last October 11.
Eliseo dela Paz, who just until last week was the PNP Directorate for Comptrollership, was stopped and briefly held by airport authorities in Moscow, Russia for questioning as he was about to return to Manila, after he and his wife were discovered carrying 105,000 euros, or P6.9 million, which exceeded the amount every passenger is allowed to carry undeclared.
Dela Paz recounted his experience to ABS-CBN News through a telephone interview Wednesday.
"Nasa last stage na kami ng boarding dapat eh, nakita doon. It's unfortunate that even my wife was dragged into it dahil pinadala ko sa kanya ang pera," he said.
Dela Paz said he should not be compared to disgraced Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Comptroller Gen. Carlos F. Garcia, who was removed from service, charged with plunder, and detained for having hidden wealth after his wife and children underwent a similar experience in a United States airport back in 2003.
Dela Paz, as well as the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the PNP, maintained the money does not belong to dela Paz but is a contingency fund for the delegates to the 77th Interpol General Assembly in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The other members of the delegation were Deputy Chief for Administration Deputy Director General Emmanuel Carta, Deputy Chief of Operations Deputy Director General Ismael Rafanan, Director for Plans Director Romeo Ricardo, Human Resource and Doctrine Development Director German Doria, Director for Operations Director Silverio Alarcio, and Superintendent Elmer Pelobello.
Dela Paz said the Russia incident should not be compared with that of Garcia’s case.
"This is not my money. Different case naman yung kay Gen. Garcia, so there's no comparison on that. The money that I’m holding is PNP money," dela Paz said.
Exceeded $10,000 limit
But if the money was official and justified, why didn't dela Paz declare it?
Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director Vic Aquino said dela Paz should have declared he was carrying such a big amount, especially since it far exceeded the limit of $10,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency) for international travelers.
Aquino said it is standard prcedure in airports around the world for customs officials to ask for a written declaration of money carried by travelers who exceed the standard limit.
Aquino added government officials do not have a limit of how much money they can carry out of the country, as long as the amount is properly declared, and the purpose of the money is clear.
There was no report on whether dela Paz declared the money before the delegation left the Philippines.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Nestor Mantarin, meanwhile, said two NBI senior officials were sent to the same Interpol conference and Russia but their per diem (daily allowance) was only US$171 each.
Mantarin said he was supposed to attend the conference but due to the budget deliberations in Congress, he instead sent Atty. Claro de Castro, head of the NBI Interpol division, and Arnel Dalumpines, head of the NBI's special task force division.
Mantarin said the per diem given to NBI staff who attend official functions abroad differs depending on where the meeting is held.
P2 million budget for eight officials
Eight ranking police officers were sent to the Interpol assembly, and the National Police Commission (Napolcom) had approved the trip with a P2 million budget.
According to documents obtained by ABS-CBN News, the total expenses for the trip, amounting to P2,314,096.00, were shouldered by the PNP.
Each person was allotted P 283,512.00, broken down as follows: P139,620.00 for airfare ($ 3,000 x P46.00 + P1,620 airport fees), P1,500 pre-departure allowance, an allowance of P128,892.00 ($467 daily allowance for six days), and P13,500 for visa and insurance application fees.
"What is important is that we await the liquidation of the fund, and this will be done soon as soon as Gen. dela Paz returns," Napolcom Vice Chairman Comm. Eduardo Escueta.
Contingency fund
But if dela Paz was given a P2.3 million budget, why was he carrying almost P7 million worth of euros on their way back to the Philippines?
DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno said this was so because a huge cash advance is needed for a trip to Europe.
"Sa Europe, the hotels are easilly triple the hotels that we pay for here, so talagang mahal yon. It’s really an expensive proposition and that is an Interpol meeting. Remember that was a meeting of all the police agencies throughout the world. Hindi naman pwepwedeng pupunta ang delegation natin don na parang mga pulubi, so they had to go there in the standards of the average police force," Puno said.
"Hindi naman nya pera yon. Pera ng organisasyon ‘yon. It is subject to liquidation. A wala naman siyang balak na itago yon dahil eh di dapat itinago ‘yon nung papasok?," Puno added.
Dela Paz brought P470,000
In the interview with ABS-CBN News, dela Paz said part of the P6.9 million includes $10,000 or P470,000 of his own money.
"Anyway this contingency fund will be subject for liquidation naman. Yung nagastos, we have to justify yung gastos. Yung hindi naman, we have to return everything," he said.
"Merong bawas na rin yon...meron din akong dalang sarili kong pera. My wife, may mga around $10,000 siya so nadagdag yon," dela Paz said.
Documentation
Dela Paz added he showed documents to Russian authorities to prove that the money he was carrying is legitimate, but the documents are still being translated to Russian.
The PNP noted dela Paz needs to liquidate the delegates' expenses, and return the extra money.
The money will also be audited upon the return of dela Paz to make sure the PNP delegates did not use the budget for their personal expenses, since the spouses of some of the police officers were with the delegation.
But questions also linger on why dela Paz was allowed to join the delegation when he retired on October 9, or two days before their scheduled trip home.
Because of this incident the Napolcom will now review its policies on approving trips abroad for all police officials.
Expired visas
Meanwhile, dela Paz also said that he, his wife, and Dir. James Caringal and his wife are currently staying in a hotel a few blocks away from the Philippine Embassy in Moscow while he is awaiting clearance from Russian authorities.
He said they are only awaiting documentation for the money.
He added their visas already expired last October 11, and that embassy officials are helping them on the matter so that they would be able to go home as soon as possible.
Dela Paz added they expect to be back in the country by weekend. -- With reports from Gus Abelgas, Jay Ruiz, Miranda de Quiros and Liza Reyes, ABS-CBN News
