Ombudsman gives dela Paz 3 days to submit papers
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/22/2008 4:46 PM
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Beleaguered retired police director Eliseo dela Paz on Wednesday personally went to the Office of the Ombudsman and promised to cooperate in its probe on the Russia cash scandal.
A day after arriving from Moscow, Dela Paz went to the office of Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni, who has been assigned to head the Ombudsman’s investigation.
Jalandoni said he gave the former Philippine National Police (PNP) comptroller three days to submit pertinent documents needed for the Ombudsman's probe such as travel documents and papers the retired police official brought to Russia.
Dela Paz, together with other seven other police officials, attended the 77th Interpol General Assembly in St. Petersburg.
Dela Paz stayed only for ten minutes inside Jalandoni’s office and left after reportedly promising to cooperate in the probe.
Jalandoni also said that some documents have already been provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine National Police.
Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez last week formed a five-person panel led by Jalandoni 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.
Jalandoni said Gutierrez gave the panel only 45 days to finish the probe.
Govt or personal funds?
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, he said.
"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 had said.
Ready to face probes
Dela Paz returned to the Philippines Tuesday and said he is ready to face investigations to fully explain the lapses he made and to answer questions about the amount of cash he was carrying out of Russia.
“I am ready and willing to face any investigation as I have nothing to hide,” said dela Paz in a press conference.
“I rest my case to the fact that the Moscow authorities allowed me last week to return to our country as they have ascertained based on the documents presented to them that the money in my possession was acquired legally and was for a legitimate purpose,” said dela Paz .
He also said he welcomes the Senate investigation and said that if invited, he would attend.
The Senate has scheduled a meeting Thursday. Aside from dela Paz, those invited are: PNP chief Jesus Versoza, Commission on Audit (COA) Chair Reynaldo Villar, Interior and Local Government Sec. Ronaldo Puno, and spouses of police generals who were in the Interpol convention -- With a report from Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News
