DOJ eyes criminal raps vs AMLC execs

MANILA, Philippines - For reportedly stonewalling on the release of documents that could be used to build up drug-related cases against Sen. Leila de Lima and some suspected drug lords, officials of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) are themselves facing charges now being readied by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said he has instructed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to check if the AMLC had violated laws for the delay in the release of documents requested or if its officials could be slapped with charges for graft or negligence. The DOJ has jurisdiction over the NBI.

“There are many charges against them. I am having it investigated by the NBI and to file appropriate charges,” Aguirre said.

“The President said that AMLC was moving slow. It is as if they are stalling on the request of the NBI to provide documents on the accounts of De Lima and drug lords. The request for the documents was filed a long time ago,” he pointed out.

He cited one instance in 2015 when it took the AMLC 22 months to issue a document requested.

As there is barely enough time left before the end of the year, Aguirre said any charges against AMLC officials are likely to be filed in 2017.

President Duterte and his officials are accusing De Lima of being at the center of the drug trade in the country. As DOJ chief during the previous Aquino administration, De Lima was said to have amassed millions of pesos from convicted drug lords at the New Bilibid Prison. She reportedly used the funds to bankroll her successful senatorial bid last May.

Duterte has been open about his disdain for De Lima, whom he accused of concocting evidence when she was Commission on Human Rights chair to link him to the so-called Davao death squad.

It was in one of his speeches that he accused her of having an affair with her driver Ronnie Dayan, who allegedly had also acted as her bagman for funds collected from convicts at NBP.

At recent congressional hearings, Dayan admitted receiving money from suspected drug trader Kerwin Espinosa and delivering it to De Lima.

Meanwhile, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian urged yesterday officials of the AMLC not to “play politics” and just cooperate with the government in fighting corruption and illegal drugs.

The senator said the previous administration had used the AMLC to leak confidential bank information to the public to destroy its political opponents.

“The AMLC should not play sides. It should preform its duties with impartiality and fairness,” Gatchalian said.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said he submitted to the AMLC some time ago a list of names of drug personalities but nothing came out of it.

He said the AMLC was targeting lawmakers on the issue of their alleged misuse of Priority Development Assistance Fund.

“For all we know, the President could be right,” Sotto said, referring to President Duterte’s call for AMLC officials to resign. – Paolo Romero