Report: A mere 'slap on the wrist' in Russia for dela Paz
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/22/2008 9:02 AM
Printer-friendly version | 
Send to friend | 
Share your views
Retired Philippine National Police comptroller Eliseo dela Paz appeared to have gotten off lightly after Russian customs officials found an undeclared 105,000 euros (P6.9 million) in his wife's carry-on baggage as they were about to leave for Poland on October 11, an online report said Wednesday.
"Dela Paz appears to have gotten off lightly compared to some other travelers caught with excess, undeclared cash at Moscow's airports," The Moscow Times' Anna Malpas reported.
Malpas cited an incident involving American missionary Andrew Okhotin in 2003 when he attempted to smuggle $48,000 through the Sheremetyevo Airport. Okhotin was given a suspended sentence of six months on smuggling charges.
Last year, another incident involving an undeclared amount took place, also at Sheremetyevo.
"Media activist Manana Aslamazyan was fined 1,000 rubles ($40) by Sheremetyevo Airport customs service for failing to declare 9,550 euros ($12,500) when she entered the country last year," the report added.
According to international law, travelers must declare cash in excess of $10,000.
Reports have said that a "brother" in the Freemasonry movement helped dela Paz in his case though the former PNP comptroller has yet to personally confirm this.
Late last week, dela Paz faced Russian investigators and showed them documents pertaining to the "contingency fund" that he was carrying on the way home. Prior to the incident, dela Paz, as disbursement officer, was with a group of high-ranking PNP officials and their wives who attended the International Police conference in St. Peterburg, Russia.
The Philippine embassy in Moscow said dela Paz was cleared in a matter of hours after undergoing investigation.
Russians mum on incident
Meanwhile, Russian officials remained tight-lipped on where the incident took place.
The Moscow Times quoted a Domodedvo Airport spokeswoman as saying that dela Paz was not detained there. The Federal Customs Service and the customs department at Sheremetyevo, meanwhile, said they were unable to answer inquiries Tuesday afternoon.
There are three major airports in Moscow. These are Domodedvo and Sheremetyevo for international flights and Vnukovo for domestic.
'I confess'
Back in Manila on Tuesday, dela Paz admitted the lapses he committed and apologized for the "international embarrassment" he caused for failing to report that he was carrying an excessive amount of money while leaving Russia.
“I offer no excuse for that lapse, and can only say that I regret having been remiss in my obligations as a departing visitor in Russia in inadvertently failing to report to airport authorities the amount of cash in my possession..,” dela Paz said in a press conference shortly after he arrived Tuesday afternoon.
“I take full responsibility for this lapse that has undeservedly led to a negative public perception of the institution that I hold so dearly and have served faithfully and honestly through all these years,” he said.
The retired PNP comptroller also apologized for the “international embarrassment” caused by this lapse.
"I apologize deeply to our people and the government for the untoward incident at the Moscow international airport, that last week touched of an international embarrassment for our country,” the retired police official said.
While saying he would not offer an excuse for being forgetful of a foreign law, which he admitted that he should have known as he is a senior law enforcement official, dela Paz said the week-long Interpol assembly and the “typical bustle” at the Moscow airport “apparently taken taken their toll on me.” Roy Medina, abs-cbnNEWS.com
