Court of Appeals freezes alleged drug trafficker's assets

MANILA, Philippines - The Court of Appeals (CA) has frozen the assets of an alleged drug trafficker arrested by police during a drug bust in Quezon City last March.

In a seven-page resolution dated Aug. 12, the CA’s second division issued a 20-day freeze order on the bank accounts and vehicles of Renato Go, alias Wu Nai Mai, and his wife Evelyn Mori Go.

The freeze also covers the bank accounts of Kelly Lou Go and Ken-Che Enterprises.

The CA, in the ruling penned by Associate Justice Michael Elbinias, granted the petition filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC). Associate Justices Remedios Salazar-Fernando and Celia Librea-Leagogo agreed in this finding.

The appeals court also directed the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the concerned banks “to submit by personal delivery to the Court and to the AMLC, a complete return on the freeze order showing their compliance, which shall be a detailed return…within 24 hours from receipt.”

Go was caught with 3.7 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu by the National Capital Region Police Office-Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force at Araneta Avenue, Quezon City last March 12.

He has been charged with drug pushing before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 82.

Authorities said there was a significant increase in deposits made in Go’s bank account a few months before his arrest. After his arrest, records show that Renato’s financial transactions ceased while that of his spouse, Evelyn, substantially increased, indicating that the transactions apparently passed through her account.

It was learned during investigation that Go apparently does not have a legitimate source of income – his arrest and booking sheet lists him as unemployed.

A certification from the Department of Trade and Industry indicated that there is no registered business entity under Renato’s name. Ken-Che, according to the DTI, is registered under the name of his spouse.