CIDG creates Task Group to investigate Moscow incident

Miami
October 28, 2008
Story: CIDG creates Task Group to investigate Moscow incident

The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) creates a special investigation task groups that will dig deeper on to the investigation in relation to Moscow Incident.

Chief Superintendent Raul Castaneda, Director of CIDG, tasked CIDG National Capital Region (NCR) Chief Sr. Superintendent Isagani Nerez and to assist him is Sr. Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, Chief of Criminal Investigation and Detection Division (CIDD). The two who will head the investigation are both lawyers.

Last Monday, October 27, PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa said that he is ordering the CIDG to file appropriate charges against Police Director Eliseo Dela Paz, Chief Supt. Orlando Pestano, Senior Superintendent Tomas Rentoy, and Superintendent Samuel Rodriguez for the unauthorized release of P6.930 million from the PNP intelligence funds.

The said money was cash advance made by dela Paz as contingency fund for their trip in Moscow for the 77th Interpol General Assembly he attended together with seven other PNP officials last October 6 to 11, 2008.

Verzosa said dela Paz made his own transactions with Rentoy, and he did not see any documents with regards to this though in reality it should be his office that would approve of the said money. The cash advance was released October 3.

“The special task group will coordinate with DIDM (Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management) on what they got on their investigation, we will get what documents they already have,” Castaneda said.

He said that filing of charges will be based on the documentary evidences that they can gather. “We will do it expeditiously, explore all aspects,” Castaneda added.

Meanwhile, Nerez said in a phone interview that their investigation will focus on the disbursement of money. “As the Chief PNP announced, the money came from the PNP intelligence funds, now we will look for some other documents that would pertain on how they release the money and why,” Nerez said.

Once they gather all the evidences need and have final result on it, the CIDG will file appropriate charges against the four before the Ombudsman.

Verzosa also said that they are waiting for the result of the investigation of the Russian authorities to dela Paz when he was held in Moscow International Airport for questioning. The Chief PNP said they also need to evaluate the findings of the Russian authorities as well.

Legal counsel of dela Paz, Atty. Noel Malaya has filed to the Supreme Court the Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition Preliminary Injunction and Temporary Restraining Order, October 28, 2008, at around 1:00 pm.

Malaya said this aims to stop the Senate in arresting dela Paz, according to him, there was no proper quorum when Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago decided to arrest dela Paz. He said majority of the members of the committee should approve the arrest.