ROXAS TO PGMA: SUSPEND PNP OFFICERS IN "EURO GENERAL" MESS

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today called on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to place on preventive suspension all Philippine National Police officers involved in the "euro general" controversy to restore public confidence in the PNP.

"Ito na ang pagkakataon ni GMA na ayusin ang kabulukan sa PNP. Habang iniimbestiga kung ano ang katotohanan dito, ay dapat isuspinde ang mga may kinalaman dito para maibalik ang tiwala ng taumbayan sa ating kapulisan (This is GMA's chance to fix the PNP. While we search for the truth, all concerned officials should be suspended to restore public confidence in the police)," said Roxas, vice-chairman of the Senate committee on foreign relations investigating the matter.

"It's your move, Madame President. Malinaw na malinaw sa imbestigasyon ng Senado na pumalpak ang kanyang mga appointees sa pag-resolba sa kontrobersiyang ito (It's very clear from the Senate investigations that her appointees failed in resolving this controversy)," he added.

Last Saturday, former PNP comptroller Eliseo De La Paz took sole responsibility for the whole mess, absolving the entire PNP leadership

The controversy erupted after Russian customs officials caught 150,000 Euros in undeclared cash from De La Paz' wife after the retired police general attended an Interpol conference in Moscow in October.

"Hindi pa nasagot ni De La Paz at ng liderato ng PNP ang mga katanungan ng publiko sa kasong ito, at mukhang tuloy pa rin ang cover-up kaya kailangang i-suspinde muna ang lahat ng mga opisyal na sabit dito (De La Paz and the PNP leadership have failed to give a satisfactory answer to the public's questions regarding this case. Since the cover-up appears to be continuing, there is a need to suspend in the meantime all the officers involved in this case)," he said.

The Ilonggo senator also said it was commendable that the PNP declared it was instituting reforms in light of the "euro generals" incident, but this must not be mere lip service.

"Huwag tayo basta-bastang maniwala na magkakareporma sa PNP. Makikita naman ito sa gawa. Kung sinsero talaga itong sina Versoza ay magsisimula ang reporma sa sarili nila (We can't just believe that reforms will happen in the PNP. This will be seen in their actions. If Versoza and the others are sincere, they would start reforms with themselves)," Roxas said.