EURO GENERALS: MOSCOW WANTS CARINGAL, VERSOZA'S WIFE
MANILA, NOVEMBER 5, 2008 (STAR) By Cecille Suerte Felipe - The Russian government has summoned the wife of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa and one of the so-called “euro generals” for their failure to declare foreign currency they brought in to Moscow when they attended the 77th Interpol General Assembly in Russia last month.The investigation of the Russian authorities was apparently connected with the case of retired police comptroller Director Eliseo de la Paz, who was held in a Moscow airport for carrying undeclared cash amounting to 105,000 euros or P6.9 million last Oct. 11.
The STAR obtained a copy of the letter dated Oct. 31, 2008 sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Ambassador to Moscow signed by the head deputy of customs on law enforcement, a colonel of the Customs Service.
In the letter, Verzosa’s wife Cynthia Jarin-Verzosa and Director Jaime Caringal, regional director of Western Mindanao, were ordered to appear before the Russian authorities on Nov. 13, 2008. The two were told to go to the Sheremetyevo Airport, Administrative Building, Sheremetyevo Customs 3rd floor room 24324.
“They need to bring passports. The defender must have POA (power of attorney),” the letter stated.
Since the controversy on the Moscow mess started last Oct. 14, it was only now that Verzosa’s wife was reported to be under investigation for excess cash.
Initial reports indicated that only De la Paz and his wife were placed under investigation, while Caringal and his wife opted to stay with the De la Paz couple to extend moral support and assistance.
Aside from De la Paz, the other police delegates also brought along their wives to Russia. Chief PNP Verzosa did not attend the Interpol meeting but his wife Cynthia went with the delegation.
The head deputy of Customs on law enforcement wrote to the Philippine ambassador that “I inform you (ambassador) that the Department of Administrative Investigation of Sheremetyevo Customs is inspecting the materials arrived on 16.10.2008 from the Investigation Division of the Linear Department of Internal Affairs of Sheremetyevo Airport regarding the Filipino nationals Verzosa Cynthia Jarin and Caringal Jaime Garcia,” the letter said.
The letter also noted that the materials contain the facts that indicate the presence of the elements of the administrative offense that is prosecuted by paragraph 16.4 of the Administrative Offenses Code of the Russian federation (AOC of Russia).
“In view of these facts, I would like to ask you to assist the Department of Administrative Investigation of Sheremetyevo Customs and inform us of the residential addresses of Filipina national Verzosa Cynthia Jarin,” the letter said.
“I would like also to inform you that the mentioned nationals are required to come to the DAISC to give explanations for the violations of laws of the Russian Federation,” the letter stated.
The Russian authority said the investigation will let them make a decision if administrative offense case should be initiated (filing of report on administrative offense) on the ground of the paragraph 15 of the AOC of Russia, because of the failure to declare foreign currency conveyed through the customs border of the Russian Federation that must be declared in written form.”
“As the time limit for the inspection is strict, I ask you to send the reply by fax 536-92-99 or 378-56-79 for the attention of Kotov DA followed by a letter through the mail or to contact by phone 536 92 89 of the chief inspector of the department of Administrative Investigation of Sheremetyevo Customs Kotov DA,” the letter added.
Although initial information indicated that Verzosa’s wife and Caringal were also questioned in Moscow airport last Oct. 11 along with De la Paz, reports said that only Caringal was found with excess cash.
The PNP has recommended the filing of charges against De la Paz and several other officers for unauthorized release of intelligence funds. But before the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group could file a formal complaint, the Office of the Ombudsman took over the probe.
PNP turns over probe to Ombudsman The PNP had turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman the investigation on De la Paz for the alleged unauthorized release of intelligence funds seized by Russian authorities in Moscow last month.
Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, chief of the National Capital Regional-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (NCR-CIDG), said the police had stopped its investigation on the case in deference to the Ombudsman that will now investigate the P7-million intelligence funds intercepted at the Moscow airport.
“The Ombudsman already invokes its authority and primary jurisdiction and therefore the PNP already yields to the investigation of the Ombudsman. Of course, we’re always ready to help in the investigation of the Ombudsman, so that’s what happened,” Nerez said.
PNP chief Verzosa has directed the CIDG to investigate police personnel involved in the unauthorized release of public funds and file appropriate charges.
Nerez said part of the evidence submitted to the Ombudsman was “an assessment of the pieces of investigation at hand but again, it’s not a complete investigation so it’s not safe to say that we’re charging somebody with this kind of violation. Again we would like to respect the would-be outcome of the Ombudsman investigation.”
“We’ve gathered some of 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 directed (us) to submit report and document and evidence in connection with the Moscow incident,” Nerez added.
In a letter to Verzosa, Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez directed Verzosa “to submit your report and recommendation to the Ombudsman to form part of our ongoing investigation.”
Gutierrez acknowledged Verzosa’s directive to the CIDG to file appropriate charges against De la Paz and other ranking officers for the unauthorized release of P6.9 million in intelligence funds.
“As early as Oct. 16, the Ombudsman has commenced its investigation on the matter. As such, the office deems to exercise its constitutional authority and jurisdiction to proceed on the matter,” Gutierrez’s letter stated.
Nerez refused to further comment on the status of the CIDG investigation on the case.
“I’d like to say that we have reached 80 percent of the investigation on the case, (but) there is an ongoing investigation with the Ombudsman and we’d like to respect the would-be result of their investigation,” said Nerez. “And we don’t like to preempt the result of the investigation, our purpose in going to the Ombudsman is merely to submit available records of the case.”
With the submission of the documentary evidence to the Ombudsman, Nerez clarified that the case about the “euro generals” is not yet closed.
Nerez said the evidence include affidavits of police officers, the letter of response from the Bureau of Immigration, the Bureau of Customs and the acknowledgment receipts pertaining to the disbursement of PNP funds in relation to the Moscow incident.
“We are very optimistic that with the ongoing investigation of the Ombudsman, we’ll be able to attain our objective to find out or ferret out the truth behind the circumstances of this Moscow incident,” Nerez said.
“The proper recommendations as to who will be charged in court and what charges shall be filed in court, rest on the shoulders of the Ombudsman and not the PNP,” he said.
De la Paz was part of the 8-man PNP delegation to the Interpol conference.
The National Police Commission (Napolcom) said the embattled police officials that were part of the Interpol delegation should just liquidate their expenses in Russia instead of paying the full amount they spent in the police conference.
“What is unusual is that they are returning the whole amount. They should have just liquidated,” Napolcom vice chairman Eduardo Escueta said.
Escueta said the easier way to account for the same would have been to simply submit liquidation reports that will explain how the money was spent.
“I surmise that even if they have legitimate expenses, they opted to return the whole amount to probably claim reimbursement later on,” he said. “We will be asking a lot of questions.” With Michael Punongbayan
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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