Ombudsman urged to start Nani probe

Former Solicitor General Frank Chavez assailed yesterday the Arroyo administration’s alleged inaction on the money laundering charges against former Justice Secretary Hernando Perez, despite a communication from the Swiss government regarding Perez’s alleged Swiss bank accounts.

In a letter to Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo, copies of which were also sent to the Office of the President, and the justice and foreign affairs departments, Chavez said, "the citizenry is puzzled" why these agencies have not initiated any individual or collective action against Perez.

As a taxpayer, Chavez asked the Ombudsman to investigate Perez’s alleged money laundering activities based on the documents from Swiss authorities and local government offices.

Chavez said the government must take the initiative to file all necessary charges against all persons who appear to be responsible for crimes committed regardless of their stature, political influence or personal connections.

Chavez said Perez’s strong political ties with the Arroyo administration seems to be an obstacle in ferreting out the truth behind the former justice secretary’s Swiss accounts.

The graft charges filed against Perez by extradited Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez are now pending before the Ombudsman. Jimenez accused Perez of accepting a $2 million bribe for a government project.

Perez denied Jimenez’s accusation, but remains silent on the Swiss authorities’ inquiry into the case, Chavez said.

"Documents from Switzerland identified Hernando Benito Perez as the justice secretary who would have collected the amount of $2 million resulting from acts of corruption or from extortion," Chavez said, citing part of communiqué between the Swiss government and the DFA.

The money in Switzerland was allegedly deposited by Ernest de Leon Escaler, a supposed dummy of Perez.

Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong has explained that his department will wait for the filing of a formal complaint against Perez before taking any action on the matter.