Verzosa orders suspension of all foreign travel and ordered to create review committee

Miami
October 16, 2008
Story: Verzosa orders suspension of all foreign travel and ordered to create review committee

The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered the suspension of all foreign travels of all PNP personnel including those that were already approved.

The order was made after the incident involving a police officer that was questioned and held at Moscow airport in Russia for carrying huge amount of money exceeding to U$10,000 limit.

In line with this, PNP Chief Director General Jesus Verzosa also ordered the creation of a “special review committee” that will conduct a study on the procedures involved when PNP personnel are sent on official mission abroad to attend police-related functions, study tours, foreign training, and other activities.

“Effective today, all foreign travel, including those already approved are hereby suspended pending the review of all existing policies and guidelines,” PNP Spokesman Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said in a pres briefing.

He added that the special review committee will help improve the system that all PNP personnel are used to in terms of travelling abroad to attend police related functions.

With the suspension of foreign travel, Bartolome stressed that this is not an admission that there was indeed something irregular in the case of retired Police Director Eliseo dela Paz, emphasizing that it is just a measure to improve the organization’s policy regarding foreign travel.

It can be recalled that eight PNP officials left the country to attend the 77th Interpol General Assembly in Saint Petersburg, Russia last October 6 to 10. Those who attend the said assembly were PNP deputy chief for administration Deputy Dir. Gen. Emmanuel Carta, deputy chief for operations Deputy Dir. Gen. Ismael Rafanan, Police Regional Office 9 director Dir. Jaime Caringal, director for operations Dir. Silverio Alarcio, director for human resource and development Dir. German Doria, director for plans Dir. Romeo Ricardo, budget and fiscal section chief Supt. Elmer Pellobello and ex-director for comptrollership Dir. Eliseo dela Paz.

Dela Paz who was about to leave Russia together with Caringal on October 11 when he was held after the Russian customs find out that he is carrying huge amount of money. Caringal did not left dela Paz in Moscow.

Dela Paz was assigned as the disbursing officer of the PNP delegation that attended the Interpol Assembly. Bartolome explained that the contingency fund will be used for unplanned activities during the assembly that the delegation would be needing money.

Dela Paz applied for a cash advance that will be used as their contingency fund. What was given to him is amounting to Php6.903 million and was converted into Euro or €105,000.

But Bartolome said it is not clear if dela Paz still have the same amount of money when he was questioned in Moscow airport. “Probably they used some of it, because when you are attending such activity, there is a trade exhibition where in you might purchase some gadgets that you think that our PNP will be needed. The money that will use for purchase will becoming from the contingency fund,” he explained.

Once dela Paz comeback to the country, even if he is retired already, he still be the one who will liquidate the money. The liquidation is within 30 days after the event that he attended to. Dela Paz retired at the PNP service last October 9, while attending the Interpol Assembly.

As of the moment, Bartolome said that the translation of documents into Russian language that the Russian authorities are asking from them are already finished and it will be submit to the Russian authorities with the help pf the Philippine embassy in Russia. After this, Dela Paz will be allowed to go home.

Bartolome added that Verzosa is also considering a mandatory pre-departure briefing for all PNP personnel who will go on official mission abroad to familiarize them of international immigration, customs and travel procedures, as well as policies and procedures that are peculiar to the country of destination.