Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, said government regulations do not allow a "contingency fund" for policemen or other public officials when they travel abroad.

Lacson disclosed this to ABS-CBN News after PNP top brass and Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said the 105,000 euros or P6.9 million discovered in recently-retired PNP comptroller Eliseo dela Paz's possession by the Russian authorities last October 11 was a "contingency fund" for the eight-person PNP delegation to the 77th Interpol General Assembly in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Lacson said there is no such item (contingency fund) under Commission on Audit (COA) rules, and he vowed to grill PNP officials on this during their budget hearing in the Senate.

"Ngayon lang ako nakarinig sa item sa travel allowance or travel expenses na 'contingency fund'. Walang ganoon eh. Maski yung COA, kung tatanungin natin, hindi iki-clear ng COA yung contingency fund sa pagbiyahe," Lacson said.

Rules in EO 248

In Executive Order (EO) 248, which governs rules on expenses and allowances for oficial trips of government personnel, there is no item provided for a "contingency fund," ABS-CBN News found out from the COA.

According to EO 248, officials are provided with allowances for travel and lodging not exceeding P15,000, aside from pre-departure, clothing, and representation allowances amounting to P67,000.

The amount found in dela Paz's possession far  exceeded the amounts indicated in EO 248.

Dela Paz, however, said it is the PNP that should explain why they were given such amount.

"Don't ask me. Yun ang padala sa akin. Dala-dala ko yun para sa grupo. Aboveboard naman 'yan. It will be subject for liquidation pagbalik namin," dela Paz, who is still in Moscow, told ABS-CBN News in a phone interview.

Dela Paz also refused to comment on why he was still part of the PNP contingent even if he was set to retire already, saying he will explain once he is back in the country.

Ombudsman to probe dela Paz

Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday formed a five-person panel to investigate dela Paz, after he was briefly held by Russian airport authorities in Moscow for not declaring 105,000 euros (worth P6.9 million) at customs.

The Office of the Ombudsman said it would investigate whether the money was government funds or personal money.

"Ano ang nature ng funds? Personal ba niya yun o government funds? Kung government funds yun, eh di titingnan natin yung procedure o yung tinatawag natin na money trail - kung sinunod ba talaga ang tamang proseso sa pagkuha ng pondo, sa paggamit ng pondo?" Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni, head of the panel, said.

If the funds are found to be dela Paz's own money, he wil then be subjected to a lifestyle check.

"Kung makita na ang pera ay hindi pag-aari ng gobyerno, ang sunod na tanong ay kung hindi iyon pag-aari ng gobyerno, kaninong pag-aari yun?" Jalandoni said.

Who carried the money?

The Ombudsman panel will also investigate whether the expenses of the wives of some of the officials who were in the trip came from taxpayers.

The panel will also clarify if it was dela Paz or his wife who carried the money.

"Government funds should be in the possession of government officials, otherwise they would be liable for technical malversation," Jalandoni said.

The Ombudsman will also call on the Commission of Audit and local airport officials to find out whether dela Paz declared the funds before the delegation went to Russia.

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez gave the panel 45 days to finish the investigation.

Dela Paz will face the panel once he arrives from Russia. --With reports from Maricar Bautista and Jay Ruiz, ABS-CBN News