Manila- The Philippines police chief ordered criminal charges filed Monday against a former police general and three senior police officials in connection with the unauthorized release of millions of pesos of intelligence funds.

Director General Jesus Verzosa identified the officials as former police comptroller Eliseo De La Paz, Chief Superintendent Orlando Pestano, Senior Superintendent Tomas Rentoy and Superintendent Samuel Rodriguez.

The case stemmed from the seizure by Russian authorities of 105,000 euros (136,363 dollars) from the luggage of De La Paz while leaving Moscow after an Interpol general assembly earlier this month.

Russia allows cash of up to the equivalent of 3,000 dollars to be taken out of the country but requires "special export permission" for cash in excess of the ceiling.

De La Paz, who reached the mandatory age of retirement during the Russia trip, said the money was intended as a contingency fund for the Philippine delegation in the meeting.

But Verzosa said an investigation conducted by the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group showed the release of the funds was not authorized.

Verzosa also said charges will be filed against De La Paz "for failure to declare the 105,000 euros he brought out of the country when he traveled to Russia."

The police chief also ordered a review of all procedures in disbursements of police funds, to ensure there will be no repetition of the incident in the future.

"All these actions are aimed at improving our internal procedures in the police, particularly in the release of funds for similar purposes," Verzosa said. (dpa)