Govt moves to seize Jinggoy’s property

Manila Times/Quezon CityProsecutors handling the plunder case against senator Jose Jinggoy Estrada are asking the Sandiganbayan to issue an order for the preliminary seizure of all his cash and properties pending litigation of the P183mn plunder case against the senator in connection with the pork barrel scam.State lawyers filed with the anti-graft court a 13-page ex-parte motion for the issuance of a writ of preliminary attachment/garnishment in order to “preserve and prevent any dissipation of prima facie ill gotten wealth” allegedly acquired by Estrada totalling P183,793,750.Prosecutors want the Sandiganbayan to seize Estrada’s known real and personal properties, bank accounts, shares of stocks, financial instruments and other properties.“It will be recalled that in the course of the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) trial, witness Benhur Luy testified that from 2004 to 2012, Estrada received kickbacks, commissions, advance fees and bribe money amounting to P183,793,750.00 for endorsing non-government organiaations controlled by co-accused Janet Lim Napoles,” the office of the ombudsman said in a statement.“Moreover, based on the report submitted by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), the total commissions or rebates received by Estrada from his PDAF were received by himself or through his dummies, namely: Pauline Labayen, Carl Dominic Labayen, Juan Tan Ng within a period of 30 days from the dates mentioned in the Luy ledger or summary of rebates. The remaining P86.875mn, which were not included in the Luy ledger, were reflected in the fund transfers from Napoles to Juan Tan Ng and Francis Yenko who were considered by the AMLC as dummies of Estrada,” it added.Assistant ombudsman Asryman Rafanan said in a press briefing that the move “is necessary to protect the interests of the State and to prevent the removal, concealment and disposition of ill-gotten properties and proceeds of plunder and corruption held by unscrupulous public officers.”The Sandiganbayan’s first division yesterday ordered the seizure of senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr’s assets worth P224mn pending resolution of the plunder charge against him in the PDAF scam.First division clerk of court Estela Teresita Rosete signed the anti-graft court’s two-page writ of attachment ordering the asset freeze.Copies of the order will be given to the Metro Manila sheriff offices, the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies.Prosecutors explained that the purpose of preliminary seizure of the real and personal properties of the senator is to ensure that these are not sold, transferred, destroyed or used for “further illegal activity” prior to any final forfeiture judgment that may be issued by the court.In persuading the court, prosecutors cited the AMLC finding that Revilla deposited P87.626mn in the bank from April 2006 to April 2010.“According to his SALN baseline declaration for 2007, the accused pegged his annual gross salary at P376,500.00 and his annual gross family income at P11,222,565.00. Yet, he had more than P21mn net worth increases in 2011 and 2012, indicating receipt of monies from illicit sources,” they said.Prosecutors also referred to AMLC’s finding that Revilla closed many of his investments and bank accounts immediately before and after the media exposed the PDAF scandal.Attached to their request was, among others, a preliminary list of properties to be seized, which include bank deposits and investments; real properties in Cavite, Tagaytay, Muntinlupa and Alabang; 15 motor vehicles; and shares of stocks.The list was based on AMLC’s bank inquiry and Revilla’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth. The office of the ombudsman filed charges against five former lawmakers who allegedly misused their PDAF.Charged at the Sandiganbayan were former representatives Rizalina Seachon-Lanete of Masbate, Samuel Dangwa of Benguet, Rodolfo Plaza of Agusan del Sur, Constantino Jaraula of Cagayan de Oro and Edgar Valdez of the Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC). Lanete is now the governor of Masbate.