MANILA, Philippines—The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered six Philippine National Police officials involved in a controversial trip to Russia in 2008 to be placed on preventive suspension for six months without pay pending its investigation of the case tagged in media as the “euro generals” scandal.
Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez, head of the anti-graft body, identified the PNP officials as Director Silverio Alarcio Jr. of the Directorate for Operations; Director German Doria of the Directorate for Human Resources and Doctrine Development; Chief Supt. Orlando Pestaño, finance service director; Chief Supt. Tomas Rentoy III, budget division director; Supt. Samuel Rodriguez, special disbursing officer and Supt. Elmer Pelobello.
But three of them—Alarcio, Pestaño and Doria—have reportedly retired from the service.
Fund source
The six PNP officials are facing administrative charges filed by the Ombudsman’s field investigation office for lying about the source of the funds used by a PNP contingent that went to St. Petersburg to attend the 77th Interpol General Assembly in October 2008.
Also charged with them for grave misconduct, dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service were retired Director General Avelino Razon Jr., Deputy Directors General Emmanuel Carta and Ismael Rafanan, and Directors Romeo Ricardo, Jaime Caringal and Eliseo dela Paz.
Gutierrez directed PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa, to “immediately” implement her 16-page order.
“The other respondent-officials are not included in the suspension order in view of their retirement from the service,” she said in a statement.
Senior Supt. Agrimero Cruz, PNP spokesperson, said the command would abide by the Ombudsman’s order.
“We will let justice take its own course. Whatever the order of the Ombudsman, the PNP will follow,” he said.
But Pestaño was reported to have retired in April. Doria retired in July 2009 and Alarcio in November 2009. An officer is deemed a private citizen upon his retirement.
Promoted
Last week, Rentoy was even promoted to a one-star general rank.
The PNP cited a law that said a criminal action against any officer did not bar him from being promoted. But once probable cause is found, the promotion can be revoked.
Three civilians who accompanied the PNP officials were also charged by the Ombudsman. They were identified as Cynthia Verzosa, wife of the PNP chief; Maria Fe dela Paz, wife of the former comptroller; and Tyrone Ng Arejola, a PNP supplier.
All public and private respondents are facing preliminary investigation for violating a string of laws, including the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
As the PNP delegation was leaving Russia, Dela Paz was detained at Moscow International Airport for carrying 105,000 euros (P6.9 million) in undeclared cash in excess of the allowable limit.
It was later revealed that Dela Paz was actually carrying P9.2 million. The police officials testified at a Senate hearing that the money came from the PNP coffers.
Collusion
The Ombudsman’s investigation, however, showed that the funds did not come from the government and that the police brass colluded to hide the source of the money.
The Ombudsman said the seized amount was found to have come from a private source, which was not duly declared by Dela Paz in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.
Pelobello allegedly prepared the computation of travel allowances of the delegates without consideration of the limits provided in the daily subsistence allowance rules on austerity (Administrative Order No. 13) and a one-year travel ban for retiring PNP officials, the Ombudsman said.
Rodriguez, Rentoy and Pestaño allegedly disbursed PNP confidential and intelligence funds which were their identified source of the currency seized from Dela Paz’s wife.
'Euro Generals' finally suspended
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