The Philippine National Police expects former PNP comptroller Eliseo dela Paz to liquidate the expenses incurred in traveling to St. Petersburg, Russia for a meeting of International Police (Interpol) officials recently.

"Immediately upon his return, the Chief PNP, Director General Jesus Verzosa, expects to receive the liquidation report of expenses of the PNP delegation that attended the recent Interpol conference in Russia," said PNP spokesman Chief Supterintendent Nicanor Bartolome.

Bartolome said that since dela Paz was designated disbursing officer of the eight-man PNP deligation, he is required to liquidate the cash advances made for the official travel.

"As standard accounting and auditing procedure, all unused cash advances will be properly returned to the PNP's general fund," Bartolome said.

The former PNP comptroller and his wife are expected to be in Manila by Tuesday.

Dela Paz and the PNP drew flak over the scandal created by the former PNP comptroller's apprehension at the Moscow International Airport last weekend.

Aside from dela Paz, his wife and several high-ranking PNP officials were stopped by Russian customs officials from boarding their flight to Manila.

Cleared to return home

On Friday, Russian officials cleared dela Paz to return home as he hurdled the investigation on why he was carrying 105,000 euros (P6.9 million) on his return flight to the Philippines.

Philippine Consul General Joselito Jimeno said dela Paz was able to convince Russian officials that the money he was carrying was a “travel contingency fund” issued by the PNP.

“Okay na, satisfied and investigators... makaka-uwi na sila,” Jimeno told ABS0-CBN News via a telephone interview.

Jimeno said among the papers dela Paz presented to Russian authorities were the PNP’s travel order, cash advance certificate and foreign exchange receipts for the Interpol  conference in St. Petersburg.

Dela Paz underwent questioning for two hours.
 
He and his wife were found to be carrying cash which exceeded the regulations amount every passenger is allowed to carry undeclared.

"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," dela Paz earlier in an earlier telephone interview.

But while he has been cleared by Russian authorities, dela Paz will still undergo investigation when he arrives in Manila.

Still to be investigated

Aside from investigations being conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman and the National Police Commission, the Aviation Security Group (ASG) will also pursue its own probe.

ASG deputy director Alex Monteagudo said dela Paz may have been allowed by their screening officer at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to the carry the money since they were more concerned over security risks.

“He didn't see anything unusual otherwise he would have reported it. If he had brought money with him...  it's not a security risk,” said Monteagudo.

Meanwhile, Versoza said there is nothing irregular with dela Paz's multi-million contingency fund.

Versoza could not explain why the official was carrying such a large amount of money.

“It depends on the purposes because as I said there are a lot of activities that they may be involved. As I've said there are a lot of countries that are being represented and we maintain very close relationships with other countries. In fact we are conducting regional, international and other forums of which individual member countries are having their own engagement and own forums whenever a big forum like that is being held,” he said.

The PNP chief likewise defended the inclusion of his wife in the trip to Russia, saying she spent her own money.

Meanwhile, deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez failed to explain why dela Paz was allowed to leave for the Interpol conference and handle the "contingency fund" even if he would already be a retired official when he returns to the Philippines.

Golez also could not comment on whether the official who approved dela Paz's travel order should be sacked.

Malacañang simply appealed for time to let the police generals return so they can answer the many questions that need to be answered. With a report from Apples Jalandoni, ABS-CBN News