CA extends freeze order on Resado’s bank accounts

04/24/2009

The Court of Appeals (CA) has granted the Anti-Money Laundering Council’s (AMLC) petition to extend for another 60 days the freeze order issued on the bank accounts of a state prosecutor implicated in the controversial “Alabang Boys” drug case.

In a two-page ruling, the CA’s Third Division through Associate Justice Myrna Dimaranan-Vidal, authorized the extension due to the complex nature and financial

analysis of the accounts belonging to State Prosecutor John Resado.

The freeze order will lapse on June 16, 2009 and such will be the last and final extension to granted by the appellate court.

Earlier, the CA approved the freeze order on Resado’s account last March 5, 2009 which was effective for 10 days or until March 13, 2009.

On March 18 the CA extended the freeze order to another 30 days or until April 17, 2009.

Resado is also facing administrative complaints before the Ombudsman for allegations of receiving bribe money in exchange for dismissing the drug charges against Richard Brodett, Joseph Tecson and Jorge Joseph — the so-called Alabang Boys.

The AMLC sought the extension because it had not completed its investigation on the prosecutor’s accounts with Banco de Oro in Bacoor, Cavite; and at PSBank branch in Padre Faura Street, Manila.

Resado was linked earlier this year to allegations government prosecutors took a multimillion-peso bribe to dismiss drug charges against the three scions of wealthy families who were arrested in buy-bust operations in September 2008.

The court said the freeze order was needed to prevent any transaction, removal, concealment, conversion or movement of the accounts pending their investigation.

Resado’s accounts became the focus of the controversy when the Department of Justice and National Bureau of Investigation received an anonymous letter about a deposit of at least P800,000 made to Resado’s account in Bacoor.

A letter signed by a certain “Juan de la Cruz” accused Resado of receiving bribe money from the drug suspects amounting to P1.6 million.

Benjamin B. Pulta

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