ROXAS ASKS RUSSIA TO PROVIDE INFO ON PNP SCANDAL

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas said today he has asked Russian authorities to provide information to help the Philippine Senate in its ongoing investigation into the "euro generals" controversy.

In a letter to Russian Ambassador Vitaliy Vorobiev, Roxas sought copies of official reports and other relevant documents related to the Russian customs authorities' detention of retired PNP comptroller Eliseo De La Paz and his wife after the police general was caught with 105,000 euros or P6.9 million worth of undeclared cash.

Roxas is acting chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee that ordered the arrest of De La Paz after the retired police official snubbed its investigation into the controversy.

"I am particularly interested if any charge has been filed in Russia against PNP Director De La Paz," he noted in his letter to Vorobiev.

"Hiniling natin ang tulong ng mga Ruso sa pagkuha ng impormasyon tungkol sa kontrobersiyang ito. Sila ang unang nakatuklas na may bitbit palang napakalaking halaga ang mga heneral natin, at baka mayroon silang nalalaman na makatutulong sa atin para makumpleto ang imbestigasyon ng Senado dito (We asked the help of the Russians in getting information on this controversy. They started this case when they arrested one of our police generals, and they may have additional information that will complete the Senate investigation)," he said.

Roxas said the Senate foreign relations committee would push the arrest of De La Paz to make him testify on the issue.

"Kung mayroon mang maitulong ang pagpunta sa Senado ni De La Paz ay ang kumpletuhin ang maaaring pagbabago sa batas lalo na sa paggamit ng intelligence fund para hindi na maulit pa itong nakakahiyang insidente na ito (De La Paz' testimony is needed so we can complete legislation like on the use of intelligence funds that would prevent a repeat of this embarrassing incident)," he said.

Roxas also reiterated his call for a Senate caucus even during the legislative break to discuss its action on the 'euro generals' controversy.