Anti-Money Laundering Council not after Resado for plunder

MANILA, Philippines – The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) said it is not investigating senior state prosecutor John Resado for plunder based on allegations that he took a bribe to dismiss the case against three suspects in the celebrated Alabang drug case.

In a manifestation yesterday, the AMLC sought the correction of records at the Court of Appeals (CA) to reflect that the agency is not probing Resado for plunder.

Rather, the AMLC is investigating Resado for a possible money laundering charge in connection with a drug-related case. The CA issued an order freezing the bank accounts of Resado and his wife last March 5.

In a resolution written by Associate Justice Myrna Dimaranan-Vidal, the CA’s 3rd Division granted the AMLC’s petition to correct its records.

The AMLC is looking into the bank accounts of Resado and his wife at Banco de Oro-SM Bacoor branch in Cavite and his account at PSBank in Padre Faura, Manila to determine if P800,000 was deposited in the bank accounts on Dec. 2 last year, the day Resado recommended the dismissal of the drug case involving the so-called Alabang Boys – Richard Brodett, Jorge Joseph and Joseph Tecson – who were arrested last September.

Earlier, the CA extended by 30 more days or until April 17 the freeze order on the accounts of Resado upon AMLC’s request.

The CA also dismissed Resado’s petition seeking to lift the freeze order issued last Feb. 27.

The CA is awaiting the results of an investigation of a Malacañang-created panel before it decides to lift the freeze order.

Based on the panel’s recommendations, President Arroyo had ordered the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission to file administrative charges against Resado. – Edu Punay