Pork Barrel Scam GOV’T INITIATES FORFEITURE OF JANET NAPOLES PROPERTIES

By Ina Reformina

MANILA – The government has initiated the forfeiture of the assets of alleged “pork barrel” scam queen Janet Lim Napoles, members of her family, foundations being linked to her, and several other individuals and entities allegedly involved in the funneling of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of lawmakers into bogus, ghost, and under-budgeted projects.

The forfeiture proceedings also cover whistleblowers, led by primary whistleblower Benhur Luy.

The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 22, through Executive Judge Marino Dela Cruz, Jr., handed down a Provisional Asset Preservation Order (PAPO) in favor of a Petition for Forfeiture of Assets by the Anti-Money-Laundering Council (AMLC).

The 20-page order, dated February 26, will be in effect for 20 days and covers bank accounts, money instruments, motor vehicles, real properties and other assets of Napoles and company.

The order prohibits the “transaction, transfer, removal, conversion, concealment or other disposition” of the subject accounts, assets and properties.

The trial court ruled that there is probable cause that the subject accounts, assets, properties, and monetary instruments may be related to “unlawful activities.”

Napoles is facing plunder and graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman, along with several lawmakers and other public officials and private individuals, in connection with the “pork barrel” scam.

The following are covered by the Provisional Asset Preservation Order: Janet Lim Napoles; her husband, Jaime, and their children Jo Christine, James Christopher, Jeane Catherine, Jane Catherine, and John Christian; and Napoles’ brother Reynald Lim, also her co-accused in the serious illegal detention case pending before a Makati trial court.

Also covered are:

•- Arthur Luy

•- Gertrudes Luy

•- William Lim

•- Simonette Briones

•- Edgar Tan

•- Patricia Tan

•- Erwin Cagas Dangwa

•- Florante Nacor

•- Flordeliz Escalera Galido

•- Francis Palmones Jr.

•- Hector Ang

•- Jacquelina Ang

•- Rodolfo Plaza

•- Shirley Marie Plaza

•- Maria Isabel Plaza

•- Ruby Chan Tuason

•- Zenaida Cruz-Ducut

•- Ana Marie Lim

•- Agrikultura Para sa Magbubukid Foundation Inc.

•- Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc.

•- Bukirin Tanglaw Foundation

•- Countrywide Agricultural and Rural Economic Development Foundation

•- Masaganang Buhay Foundation Inc.

•- People’s Organization for Progress and Dev’t Foundation Inc.

•- Social Dev’t Program for Farmers Foundation Inc.

•- JLN Construction and Dev’t Corp.

•- JLN Corporation

•- Jo-Christine Trading

•- JCLN Global Properties Devt Corp

•- JCLN Real Estate Consortium Inc.

•- ZNAC Rubber Estate Corp.

The trial court has set a hearing on the PAPO on March 7, where all individuals and entities subject of the order shall be given the opportunity to show why the order should be lifted. After which, the court shall determine whether the PAPO should be modified, lifted or an asset preservation order be issued.

The AMLC obtained in August 2013 a 6-month freeze order on the bank accounts and related web of accounts of Napoles, members of her family, officers of her corporations, “pork” scam respondents and whistleblowers, and so-called Napoles NGOs.

The CA freeze order covers, among others, Napoles accounts at:

•BPI-OR-Tektite

•BDO-Unibank Inc BDO Elite Savings Bank Inc

•Citibank, NA

•Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corp

•HSBC Savings Bank (Phils) Inc.

•Land Bank of the Philippines-Greenhills

•Metrobank Card Corp

•Metropolitan Bank

•United Coconut Planters Bank

•Air Material Wing SLA Inc.

•Insular Life Assurance Co. Ltd.

•Philippine AXA Life Insurance Corp.

•Philippine American Life & General Insurance Co. Inc.

•Philippine American Life and General Insurance Co Inc., and

•Sun Life of America

The PAPO came on the heels of the expiration of the CA freeze order.