PNP denies that one of their personnel is detained in Russia but admit that it was being questioned by Russian authorities because of Php6.9M sum of m

Miami
October 15, 2008
Story: PNP denies that one of their personnel is detained in Russia but admit that it was being questioned by Russian authorities because of Php6.9M sum of money

The Philippine National Police denies reports that one of their officials was detained in Russia for bringing money exceeding the limit that is allowed to be brought by any traveller.

PNP Spokesperson Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said that Police Director Eliseo dela Paz, the former Director for Comptrollership, was only questioned by the authorities of Russia at the airport for bringing about € 105,000 or 6.930 million in pesos.

Bartolome said dela Paz has to explain everything as he return in the Philippines. However, there is no schedule yet on when dela Paz will be coming back to the Philippines as the Russian authorities are still waiting for the documents to show that the money came from the Philippines.

"Let me make it clear that no member of the PNP delegation has been arrested or detained. Director dela Paz is now staying in a hotel in Moscow near the Philippine Embassy and is awaiting the official documents that will be translated into Russian language and forwarded to the customs authorities," Bartolome said.

Dela Paz was with seven other police officials that went to Russia to attend the 77th General Assembly of the International of the International Crime Police Organization (Interpol). He was with PNP deputy chief for administration Deputy Dir. Gen. Emmanuel Carta, deputy chief for operations Deputy Dir. Gen. Ismael Rafanan, Police Regional Office 9 director Jaime Caringal, director for operations Dir. Silverio Alarcio, director for human resource and development Dir. German Doria, director for plans Dir. Romeo Ricardo, and his budget and fiscal section chief Supt. Elmer Pellobello.

The Interpol Assembly was held last October 6-11 at Saint Petersburg in Russia. Dela Paz was held on October 11 together with Caringal only because other police officials have their own schedule and Bartolome said, “Probably they went into other countries for vacation or other appointments.”

Both dela Paz and Caringal was bound for Manila. Caringal was not being investigated, he just accompanying dela Paz because of what happened.

Bartolome explained, dela Paz was the designated as the disbursing officer of the PNP delegation to Russia. He added the said money is used as “contingency fund” which is intended to support other activities and incidental expenses of the group during their stay in Russia and dela Paz requested for it as cash advance which was given to him before they left the country.

Bartolome said the contingency fund is subject for liquidation within 30 days after the event that they attended to.

Dela Paz has retired last October 9, while attending the Interpol Assembly, but Bartolome said dela Paz still liable for what happened even if he retired already.

Bartolome also said that probably there is a lapse on part of dela Paz for not declaring the amount of money that he is bringing. As a process, dela Paz should declare the amount of money that he is bringing in Russia. A traveller has a limit of U$ 10,000 money that they should be bringing. “But as you can see he was only held when he was about to leave Russia,” Bartolome said adding that the situation can only be explained by dela Paz himself upon his return to the Philippines.

The PNP is now coordinating with the Philippine embassy in Russia so that dela Paz and Caringal can go back of the country immediately. According to Bartolome, the Russian authorities are asking for the documents that will prove that the money originated from the Philippines, and this has to be written in Russian language as well.

Bartolome also confirms that the visa of Caringal and dela Paz has already lapse, because their visa is good only for the conference. But they do not see any problem with this anymore because the Philippine Embassy in Russia is already assisting the two.