Court of Appeals freezes Pilar Pilapil kidnap suspect's assets

MANILA, Philippines - The Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered a bank to freeze for 20 days the accounts of a suspect in the kidnapping of actress Pilar Pilapil and two of the suspect’s relatives.

The CA’s special third division, in an 11-page resolution dated Nov. 8, granted an ex-parte petition filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), which wanted the bank accounts of Rosel Jacosalem Peñas; her sister, Evalyn Jacosalem; and her sister’s mother-in-law, Luzvilla Agustin, frozen and for the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to freeze the account of Peñas’ Kia Carens. Peñas, the wife of Pilapil’s brother-in-law, was then staying with her daughter at Pilapil’s house.

The CA agreed with the AMLC that there exists probable cause to freeze the bank accounts and the LTO motor vehicle account, which are “ostensibly related” to Peñas reportedly swindling Pilapil of P5.8 million before allegedly trying to kill the former beauty queen, according to the results of an investigation by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

“In order to avoid the possibility of the funds in the subject bank accounts, its related web accounts, and the motor vehicle being withdrawn, removed, transferred, concealed, and placed beyond the reach of law enforcers, this Court finds it appropriate and judicious to issue a freeze order,” the CA said in its resolution.

Peñas was charged with kidnapping and frustrated murder at the Antipolo prosecutor’s office after Pilapil was stabbed and left for dead last April 14. Peñas, driving her Carens, picked up Pilapil from a mall, supposedly to introduce her to the executives of Unilever Australia, who were then at Riverbend Hotel in Marikina City. Peñas was driving when two unidentified men forced their way into the vehicle, stabbed Pilapil, then sped away with Peñas.

Money, money

Penas told Pilapil she was leaving for Australia to work for Unilever and that she needed to borrow P350,000 for the processing of her travel papers.

Pilapil released P200,000 on May 25, 2010 and the remaining P150,000 on June 1, 2010.

While allegedly in Australia, Peñas made the actress believe that her child was involved in a serious accident and had to undergo an operation. Pilapil again extended loans in various amount bringing Peñas total loan to P1.05 million.

Peñas enticed Pilapil to invest P6 million in Unilever Australia, claiming her investment would earn 7.5 percent interest. This prompted Pilapil to decide that instead of getting back the money she loaned to Peñas, the latter should instead invest the amount in Unilever in the actress’ name. Pilapil then sent Penas the additional amount of P3.97 million.

Peñas also managed to convince Pilapil that she could help her daughter Pia and her family to migrate to Australia, prompting the actress to send an additional P215,000 for the purchase of a second-hand car that Pia would be using when she arrives in Australia.

The amounts were deposited in an account under the name of Agustin, who Peñas claimed was her boss. Pilapil deposited the amounts requested of her in the bank accounts of either Peñas, Agustin or Jacosalem.

However, the Bureau of Immigration, in response to a request made by the CIDG, certified that Peñas was never out of the country.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also found out that while Peñas was still missing and presumed to still be in the hands of her abductors, withdrawals were made from her automated teller machine account from ATM machines in Caloocan City and Quezon City.

This discovery prompted the NBI to request the AMLC for complete details of the transactions involving the bank accounts of Peñas, Jacosalem and Agustin.