Timeline: PNP, De la Paz and the euro scandal
abs-cbnNews.com/Newsbreak | 11/15/2008 3:05 AM
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Oct. 6-10, 2008—Philippine National Police officials attend the 77th Interpol General Assembly held in St. Petersburg, Russia.
October 9, 2008—PNP comptroller Eliseo De la Paz retires from service.
October 11, 2008—Russian customs officers detain De la Paz at the Moscow International Airport for carrying 105,000 euros—an amount beyond the airport’s outbound cash limit.
October 15, 2008—Zamboanga police regional director Jaime Caringal, one of the police officials stranded in Moscow, says that “forgetfulness” caused trouble for PNP officials in Russia. PNP, meanwhile, says Dela Paz was not yet retired when he went to Russia.
October 17, 2008—Philippine Consul General Joselito Jimeno says dela Paz was cleared by Russian authorities because he was able to convince him that the money in his possession was a “travel contingency fund” issued by PNP.
October 18, 2008—PNP Chief Jesus Versoza says Dela Paz money was contingency fund. PNP Spokesperson Nicanor Bartolome says there was nothing irregular in the Russian trip of the PNP officials’ wives because they were also invited by the Interpol.
October 21, 2008—Dela Paz arrives from Moscow and apologizes for the Moscow incident.
October 22, 2008—Dela Paz appears at the Office of the Ombudsman and promises to cooperate with its probe on the Russian cash scandal. Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno says he did not authorize the P7 million cash advance.
October 23, 2008—De la Paz snubs the Senate hearing on the issue prompting Senator Miriam Santiago to cite him for contempt.
October 27, 2008—PNP Chief Jesus Versoza orders the filing of charges against former police comptroller Eliseo dela Paz, Senior Superintendent Tomas Rentoy, chief of the budget division and director for comptrollership, Superintendent Samuel Rodriguez, disbursing officer of the directorate for intelligence, Chief Superintentent Orlando Pestano, chief of PNP financial services.
October 28, 2008—Bartolome tells DZMM that only four men—Dela Paz, Pestano, Rentoy, Rodriguez—knew of the decision to release P 6.9 million from the PNP intelligence fund to be used as “cash advance” by PNP officials who went to Russia.
October 29, 2008—Versoza orders the seven active police officials to return the amount received from the PNP Financial Services.
October 31, 2008—Alarcio and Doria return to the PNP Financial Services P374, 070.
November 3, 2008—Six police officials (Dela Paz, Carta, Rafanan, Ricardo, Caringal and Pelobello) return P1.32 million in travel allowances
November 4, 2008— PNP turns over to the Office of the Ombudsman the evidence it has gathered about the controversy.
November 6, 2008—Reports say that an additional 45,000 euros was confiscated from dela Paz by Russian authorities. Noel Maglaya, Dela Paz’s lawyer, says the money was given by Chinese businessman Tyrone Arejola, who asked the retired general to buy him two designer watches in Europe.
November 7, 2008—PNP says it is unaware of Dela Paz’s 45,000 euros.
November 11, 2008—The Senate sergeant-at-arms serves order of arrest against Dela Paz.
November 12, 2008—The Suprene Court defers the issuance of an order preventing the Senate from arresting de la Paz while the Office of the Ombudsman summons the five police generals—Dela Paz, Rodriguez, Rentoy III, Pestano, Ricardo—linked to the controversy. The Senate, meanwhile, issues an arrest order for Dela Paz but he is out of town.
November 14, 2008—Senate takes custody of Dela Paz.
--Research by Jesus F. Llanto, abs-cbnNews.com/Newsbreak
Sources: Inquirer.net, various news reports
