CIDG to submit De la Paz report to Ombudsman today

MANILA, Philippines – The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) is set to submit to the Office of the Ombudsman its report on the investigation into the alleged unauthorized release of P6.9 million or 105,000 euros to retired police comptroller Eliseo de la Paz.

Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman, said that Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, CIDG-National Capital Region chief, would be submitting the results of their investigation to the Ombudsman today.

“The CIDG is now finalizing its own investigation based on the directive of Director General Jesus Verzosa. We expect the CIDG to submit the results of its investigation to the Ombudsman on Tuesday,” Bartolome said.

Verzosa directed the CIDG to file the appropriate charges against the police officers involved in the unauthorized release of funds from the Directorate for Intelligence to cover the expenses for the PNP delegation to the 77th Interpol General Assembly in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The PNP chief said that the possible charges would be malversation of public funds, and violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices act and of the Central Bank act.

Although Verzosa has made the recommendation, Bartolome said it is not yet final and the CIDG will still determine the liability of each of the personalities involved.

Verzosa recommended the filing of charges against De la Paz; Chief Superintendent Orlando Pestaño, PNP Finance Service; Senior Superintendent Tomas Rentoy, chief of the budget division directorate for comptrollership; and Superintendent Samuel Rodriguez, disbursing officer for the Directorate for Intelligence for the unauthorized release from the PNP confidential/intelligence funds.

Bartolome also announced that De la Paz and the other police officials who were part of the delegation have returned in full their cash advances to the PNP.

Verzosa ordered all PNP delegates to the Interpol conference to return the entire cash advance they received from the Finance Service after De la Paz was detained at the Moscow airport with undeclared 105,000 euros. De la Paz later claimed he made the cash advance from the funds of the Directorate for Intelligence.

De la Paz, Deputy Director General Emmanuel Carta, PNP Deputy Chief for Administration (DCA), Chief Superintendent Romeo Ricardo, Directorate for Plans; Western Mindanao Police Region (PRO 9) Director Jaime Caringal returned the P274,070 in full, said Bartolome.

The PNP spokesman said Deputy Director General Ismael Rafanan, Deputy Chief for Operation (DCO), has returned P74,000 while Superintendent Elmer Pelobello returned P100,000.

Both promised to return the rest within the month.

Earlier, Director Silverio Alarcio Jr., Director for Operations, returned the full amount of P274,070.00, while Director German Doria, Director for Human Resource and Doctrine Development (DHRDD) returned the partial amount of P150,000 with a promissory note to return the balance within 30 days.

“So all the eight police officers have complied with the directive of the PNP chief to return the entire cash advance for travel they received from the Finance Service,” Bartolome said. “Should anyone of them feel they are entitled to reimbursement of expenses, they may file the corresponding claims following the normal accounting and auditing procedures.”