MANILA - Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) director Noli Taliño on Tuesday said the police officer involved in alleged fund malversation has returned a total of P37 million from the missing P60 million in police funds.

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Taliño said former SAF budget and control officer Senior Supt. Andrei Dizon returned the P37 million in cash: P10 million last April 12 and P27 million on Monday, April 16.

"Sa budget officer kay Superintendent Collado. Sinabihan ako ng budget officer ko na, ‘Sir, nagbigay ng ganitong amount," he said.

Taliño said former SAF director Benjamin Lusad claimed to have used the P60-million subsistence allowance for SAF operations and activities.

Taliño said they have started to distribute the returned money to SAF personnel but did not specify how much they gave per person.

“Nag-initial na. May nakatanggap na," he said.

Meanwhile, outgoing PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa said Lusad admitted to him that he failed to focus on administrative work while he was SAF director.

"I take his word na kilala ko naman siya na maayos na tao although sabi niya hindi raw niya natututukan dahil sabi niya. Nakatutok siya sa operations sa field kaysa sa administrative matters na yan. Apparently, napabayaan niya yung kanyang budget fiscal officer. I’m just taking his word at face value. Malalaman mo talaga katotohanan nyan after the investigation," Dela Rosa said.

Even Dela Rosa was puzzled where Dizon got the P37 million cash.

"Nasa kanila ang pera, hindi ibinibigay ang pera. I don't know, lalabas yan sa investigation, nasa kanila ang pera, hindi nila ibinibigay. Kaya nga kinasuhan sila hindi ibinibigay," Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa said investigation should continue even if part of the money was returned.

"Whatever, the complaint stays. The investigation should go on whether or not naibalik ang pera. Una nagbigay ng P10 million tapos afterwards ang dagdag ng P27 million, naging P37 million, ibinalik kay General Taliño para ibalik sa tropa. Di ko alam kung saan nila kukunin iyon," Dela Rosa said.

Taliño said he presumed the P37 million came from the missing additional subsistence allowance.

“I presumed," he said.