Assets frozen in reporter-massacre case

MANILA - The Philippine Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered the freezing of the multi-million peso assets of the powerful Ampatuan political clan tagged as the prime suspects in the massacre of 57 people, including 32 journalists in Maguindanao, southern Philippines in 2009.

The 20-day freeze order covers banks and government suspected of having been used by the Ampatuans to conceal more than $200 million (US).

Associate Justice Celia Librea-Leagogo granted the petition filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) for the issuance of a freeze order against 28 members of the Ampatuan clan led by its patriarch Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr., (pictured above right) former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Zaldy Putu Ampatuan.

In its petition, AMLC cited a report of the Commission on Audit (CA) for the Office of the Regional Governor (ORG) of ARMM that the latter received allotments amounting to $460 million (US) and cash allocations of nearly $407 million (US) from the national government.

However, COA said that funds received by the ORG for its own operation during the term of former ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan “were not properly utilized and managed.”  It said the expenses amounting to $23 million may not be considered legitimate as the supporting documents were spurious.

The freeze order requires various government agencies and other institutions to submit to the CA and the AMLC a detailed written return specifying account numbers; the names of the account owners or holders; the amount of the monetary instrument, property or related web accounts as of the time they were frozen, and other relevant information.

“We agree with petitioner that probable cause exists that the subject bank accounts and other described properties of the respondents in the petition are related to unlawful activities; and that unless frozen, the funds in the subject accounts will certainly be withdrawn and the other identified properties disposed of, thereby placing them beyond the reach of the law,” the CA said.

The AMLC said based on the statement of assets and liabilities and net worth (SALN) of Andal Sr., most of his real properties amounting to $2 million were not declared.  The report also said Andal Sr. has 27 houses and lots located in Shariff Aguak, Cotabato City and Davao City, all in southern Philippines. 

The AMLC said Andal Sr. also owns  91 vehicles with an estimated value of $2.5 million, some of which were registered in the name of his wife Bai Laila Ampatuan. Only $1 million worth of vehicles were declared in his SALNs.

“It was concluded by the panel that even if the alleged undisclosed assets and properties were declared by Datu Andal Sr. in his SALNs, their aggregate value cannot be justified by the net or disposal income as derived from the annual income tax returns, leading to the conclusion that he amassed unexplained wealth manifestly and excessively out of proportion to his legitimate income from 2000 to 2009…,” AMLC said in its petition.

A lifestyle check panel also discovered that Zaldy owned at least 38 houses and lots located in Shariff Aguak, Cotabato City, Metro Manila and Davao City with an estimated worth of $1.3 million, but only $790,000 worth of properties were declared.