Court of Appeals extends freeze order on Resado bank accounts

MANILA, Philippines - The Court of Appeals (CA) has further frozen the bank accounts of state prosecutor John Resado, who is accused of receiving bribes from the families of prominent drug suspects dubbed the “Alabang Boys.”

The third division of the appellate court, in a two-page order, has extended to 30 more days or until April 17 the freeze on the accounts of Resado upon the request of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), which is investigating the accounts where the bribe money had been allegedly deposited.

The CA also junked Resado’s petition to lift the freeze order issued last Feb. 27 and which was supposed to expire today.

In the order written by Associate Justice Myrna Dimaranan Vidal and promulgated last March 5, the CA said it would await the results of the investigation conducted by a Palace-created panel on the bribery allegation before it decides to lift the freeze order on Resado’s bank accounts.

It was earlier reported that the panel has already submitted its findings to President Arroyo last Thursday.

Covered by the freeze order were the joint account of the Resado couple at the Banco de Oro-SM Bacoor branch in Cavite, Resado’s account with PSBank-Padre Faura Branch and “all related web of accounts wherever they may be.”

Associate Justices Martin Villarama Jr. and Rosalinda Asuncion Vicente also signed the freeze order.

Resado is the controversial prosecutor who signed the Joint Inquest Resolution dismissing the drug trafficking case against Richard Brodett, Jorge Joseph and Joseph Tecson. Money allegedly changed hands in the ruling.

It was later found that P800,000 was deposited in Resado’s Banco de Oro account on the same day he signed the resolution recommending the release of the three drug suspects.

Resado later testified before Congress that the money came from his family’s unregistered money-lending operations in the province but the AMLC said there was probable cause that the money came from illegal activities.

The CA issued the freeze order upon the request of the AMLC.

The alleged bribery came to AMLC’s attention after an anonymous letter was sent to the National Bureau of Investigation stating that P800,000 was deposited in Resado’s bank account and another P800,000 in his wife’s account.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez endorsed the letter to the AMLC, asking whether the case fell under the provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering Act “considering that Resado (was) involved in the Alabang Boys illegal drug case.”

In its petition to Resado’s bank accounts, AMLC noted that the prosecutor’s gross annual salary stands at no more than P309,000 only based on in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.

In the SALN, the AMLC quoted Resado as declaring that he had “no business interests and financial connections to declare.”

But in an earlier congressional inquiry, Resado claimed his bank account comprised “liquidated assets” from a money-lending business he owned but being run by a relative in Tarlac City.

In court documents, Resado said his cash deposits were earnings from several businesses operated by his sister-in-law in Camiling Public Market, Tarlac City.

He also reportedly invested in lending operations that charged a five-percent monthly interest.

The lending operation and other businesses claimed by Resado, according to the AMLC, were not registered with either the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas or the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The AMLC said there are indications that Resado’s accounts “were related to unlawful activities” in violation of the Comprehensive

Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The “Alabang Boys” case was investigated by State Prosecutor Resado, deemed valid by Prosecutor Misael Ladaga, who then forwarded it to Senior State Prosecutor Philip Kimpo.

Kimpo then approved the dismissal and forwarded it to Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño, who also gave his nod to the recommendation.

The STAR exclusively reported the alleged bribery on Dec. 23, or four days after PDEA received the findings of DOJ prosecutors recommending the dismissal of the complaint their lawyers had filed against the three drug suspects.

This reporter was among those called to the witness stand by the panel.

It was also reported that a parent of one of the drug suspects allegedly tried to bribe arresting PDEA officials with P20 million for their release. A PDEA official reportedly confirmed an attempt by the drug suspects’ camp to bribe them immediately after the arrest.

The camp of the Alabang Boys had already denied the allegation, arguing that the dismissal of the complaint was because of their strong defense.