PNP turns over the investigation on P6.9 million to the Ombudsman, did not make any recommendation on what case to be filed

Miami
November 4, 2008
Story: PNP turns over the investigation on P6.9 million to the Ombudsman, did not make any recommendation on what case to be filed

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR) of the Philippine National Police already submit the documents they gather on their investigation in relation to P6.930 million or the Moscow incident to the Ombudsman.

Sr. Supt. Isagani Nerez, Chief of CIDG-NCR said, “We've accumulated all the necessary documents pertaining to our investigation, we are waiting for other pieces of evidence. But because of the letter of our Ombudsman, the Chief PNP (Director general Jesus Verzosa) directed us to submit report and documents and evidence in connection with the Moscow incident.”

The Office of the Ombudsman Merceditas Guiterrez wrote to Verzosa directing them to submit their report. This is the day after Verzosa made his orders to the CIDG-NCR to file appropriate charges against Retired Police Director Eliseo Dela Paz, Chief Supt Orlando Pestano (chief of Finance Service), Senior Superintendent Tomas Rentoy (budget division chief), and Superintendent Samuel Rodriguez (special disbursing officer) for the unauthorized release of P6.930-million from the PNP confidential/intelligence funds,

“Pursuant to Section 15 of Republic Act 6770, you are hereby directed to submit your report and recommendation to this Office to form part of our on-going investigation,” stated at the letter of Gutierrez to Verzosa.

It is also stated on the letter that as of October 16, the Ombudsman has started their investigation.

But the CIDG-NCR did not make any recommendation on what case should be filed against the four. “The Ombudsman already invokes its authority and primary jurisdiction and therefore the PNP already yields to the investigation of Ombudsman,” Nerez said.

“The proper recommendation as to what charges and who shall be charged in court rest on the shoulder of the Ombudsman and not with the PNP because we do not want to pre-empt the investigation they are doing,” Nerez added.

Among the evidences that the CIDG-NCR submitted to the Ombudsman are affidavits of police officers (proof that they attended the assembly) the letter of response from the Bureau of Immigration and deportation from the Bureau of Customs and the acknowledgment receipts pertaining to the disbursement of PNP funds in relation to Moscow incident.

Even if the PNP already cease their investigation, Nerez said they are already reached about 80% of their investigation before turning over the case to the Ombudsman.

The PNP is now facing a controversy after the Russian authorities found 105,000 euros in the luggage of dela Paz at the Moscow International Airport last October 11. Dela Paz is about to go back to the Philippines when he was held for questioning. He came back in the Philippines last October 21 and say sorry for the “lapses” he made.

He even said that the money P6.930 million (105,000 euros) will be wire-transfer from Moscow to the accounts of the PNP. But until now, the PNP is not yet receiving the money.