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Senate orders arrest of ex-police chief detained in Russia with undeclared cash
Administration Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago has ordered the arrest of a retired top police officer, who snubbed a Senate probe on why he carried undeclared cash while travelling from Moscow earlier this month.
- By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief
- Published: 23:55 October 23, 2008
Manila: Administration Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago has ordered the arrest of a retired top police officer, who snubbed a Senate probe on why he carried undeclared cash while travelling from Moscow earlier this month.
"I command you, arrest him now and bring him here," said Santiago as she signed the arrest warrant for Eliseo de la Paz, former police director, who was caught by Russian authorities with 105,000 euros, which is equivalent to 6.9 million pesos (Dh517,312), after a police forum in Moscow.
"His wife Maria Fe was not included in the arrest order because it might affect the family and her children," said Santiago.
Lawyer Noel Malaya said that De la Paz did not attend the Senate probe because the Senate committee on foreign affairs that Santiago heads has no jurisdiction over the case.
Apex court
The issue will be raised before the Supreme Court, Malaya said. Earlier, De la Paza said he failed to declare the amount he was carrying for the Philippine delegation. That was why he could not explain why he had plenty of money when he was leaving Moscow for Manila. The police said that De la Paz was given contingency fund for the delegation.
At the same time, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said De la Paz had retired from the police service while he was in Moscow. Philippine National Police officials led by Director General Jesus Verzosa, and Interior secretary Ronaldo Puno attended the hearing.
On October 11, Russian authorities detained De la Paz and his wife for carrying undeclared cash amounting to 105,000 euros (P6.9 million). He was part of the eight-member police delegation that attended the 77th International Police (Interpol) General Assembly in St Petersburg from October 7 to 10.
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