Cops’ foreign trips frozen

BY RAYMOND AFRICA

PNP chief Jesus Verzosa yesterday ordered that all foreign travels of police personnel be suspended pending a review of policies on travels outside the country.

Verzosa’s order came after former PNP comptroller Director Eliseo dela Paz and his wife were held in Moscow on Saturday for carrying 105,000 euros (P6.93 million) in cash as they were about to board their plane on the way home after attending an Interpol meeting.

Russia requires visitors to declare foreign exchange of more than $10,000 on arrival so that on their way out they would have proof they are not taking foreign exchange out of the country.

Verzosa said a special review committee will be formed to study procedures applying to PNP personnel sent on official mission abroad to attend police-related functions, study tours, training, and other activities.

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said the PNP is also considering a mandatory pre-departure briefing for PNP personnel on official mission abroad to familiarize them with international immigration, customs and travel procedures, as well as policies and procedures that are peculiar to the country of destination.

In Moscow, customs authorities are expected to receive Thursday documents submitted by the PNP through diplomatic channels.

Russian customs authorities had put on hold the 105,000 Euros contingency fund of the PNP delegation to the Interpol meeting.

"The forwarded documents, translated into Russian language, include certification of official issuance of the travel funds by the PNP," Bartolome said.

He said that "all unused funds have to be returned, and all expenses must be properly liquidated in accordance with government accounting and auditing procedures."

Gaylord Ventura, airport customs supervisor at Centennial Terminal 2, said Dela Paz did not declare that he was carrying a large sum of money when he, along with 12 other officials and their spouses left October 5.

"There was no declaration papers submitted to us by the PNP officials," he said.

Central Bank regulation stipulates that any amount exceeding P10,000 or $10,000 or its equivalent carried by a departing passenger should be declared.

The PNP delegation attended the 77th Interpol General Assembly in St. Petersburg.

They left via the Centennial Terminal 2 aboard a Philippine Airlines flight PR-310, which took off for Hong Kong at 9 p.m.

From there, they took a connecting flight to Moscow, according to airport officials.

The members of the delegation were Deputy Chief for Administration Emmanuel Carta, Deputy Chief for Operation Ismael Rafanan, Director for Plans Romeo Ricardo, Chief for Human Resources and Doctrine Development Herman Doria, Director for Operations Silverio Alarcio, PRO 9 Director Jaime Caringal, Supt. Elmer Pelobello at Director for Comptrollership Eliseo dela Paz.

Also with them were Cynthia Verzosa, Anita Carta, Marie Fe dela Paz, Evita Caringal, and Rosa Venditha Alarcio.

A Customs official who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal said: "Wala nang declaration kasi bitbit na ng escort ang bag (There was no declaration because the escort carried the bag)."

Records of the Aviation Security Group show the delegation was given VIP status with PNP chief Verzosa and Supt. Edwin Corvera leading the send-off party.

The Volunteers against Crime and Corruption denounced the "special treatment" for Dela Paz.

VACC chair Dante Jimenez said had airport authorities called the attention of Dela Paz, he would not have been held in Moscow.

"When you get to airports abroad, you will surely be inspected. Apparently, Philippine authorities have not learned the lesson of General Carlos Garcia," he said.

Garcia was the former Armed Forces comptroller whose son was arrested by the US Customs at the San Francisco airport in 2003 for failing to declare $100,000 he was carrying.

"Very sad to say, tolerance is the problem of this country," Jimenez said.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño said he would file a resolution next week for a congressional inquiry into the incident "due to their extraordinarily large cash hoard."

"Exactly how much was the generals’ baon?" he said. "Is this common practice? Was the amount a `kotong’ or a commission for some contract? At this time of economic hardship, the incident was a shameless abuse of taxpayers’ money," he said.