The head of the Ombudman’s panel formed to investigate a former police official who was briefly held by Russian airport authorities in Moscow on Friday said the probe will focus on the nature of the 105,000 euros (worth P6.9M) he was carrying.

 

Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni said however that it is too early to make a conclusion as to whether all other officials accompanying former Philippine National Police (PNP) comptroller Eliseo dela Paz should also be called for investigation.

 

In an interview at ABS-CBN morning show “Umagang Kay Ganda,” Jalandoni said that they are willing to collate all pertinent information which may be related to the incident as they await the return of dela Paz to the country.

 

“Nakatuon po tayo doon sa nature ng pera. During the course of the investigation, other collateral issues that may come up will also be considered…At this stage maaga pa para masabi nating ipapatawag natin sila,” he said.

 

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 P6.9M) at customs which exceeded the allowable limits based on regulations.

 

As of now, the head of the Ombudsman’s five-person panel said that no case has been filed yet against dela Paz. 

 

“Ngayon wala pa silang kaso,” he said.

 

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

 

"Ano ang nature ng funds? Personal ba niya ‘yon o government funds? Kung government funds ‘yon, eh di titingnan natin ‘yong procedure o ‘yong tinatawag natin na money trail - kung sinunod ba talaga ang tamang proseso sa pagkuha ng pondo, sa paggamit ng pondo?" Jalandoni said previously.

 

If the funds are found to be dela Paz's own money, he would 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 ‘yon?" Jalandoni said.

 

 

He mentioned that contingency funds are intended for specific programs and not just for travel, as what can be seen with the case of dela Paz. Still, he stressed that it is too early to make a conclusion.

 

“Sa initial na pagkakaalam namin, ang contingency fund should be nakalaan para sa isang programa. Hindi lang basta for travel. So initially iyon ang aming nakikita. Pero sinasabi ko, napakaaga nga ngayon to make a conclusion,” he said.  

 

Jalandoni said that Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez gave his panel 45 days to finish the investigation.

 

Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief, said Thursday that government regulations do not allow a "contingency fund" for policemen or other public officials when they travel abroad.

 

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 ‘yong COA, kung tatanungin natin, hindi iki-clear ng COA ‘yong contingency fund sa pagbiyahe," Lacson said.

 

 

According to Executive Order (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 even if it were all allotted for all the members of the PNP's official delegation to the 77th General assembly of the International Criminal Police Organization or INTERPOL.

 

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 ‘yon 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 Wednesday 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 this weekend.