ISAFP: No dirt on Stanley Ho

The Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) said yesterday it has no files on the alleged links of Macau gambling tycoon Stanley Ho to drug syndicates.

ISAFP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Calimlim admitted though that the military has seen the intelligence reports from the United States and Canada concerning Ho's alleged activities, but said matters concerning criminal syndicates are under the ambit of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

"Reports of such nature are generally under the jurisdiction of the PNP," Calimlim said.

Meanwhile, former senator and now Rep. Ernesto Herrera (LAMP, Bohol) revealed that Ho is in debt in Hong Kong.

He said his revelation is based on official Chinese government documents which an informant has furnished him and which he has asked a Chinese friend to translate into English.

"Based on what I have read so far, I think he is in a financial bind. He is in debt in Hong Kong to the tune of HK$ 9 billion (about P50 billion)," he said.

The congressman said Ho incurred the huge indebtedness in connection with his property development and gaming business in the former British Colony.

He added that the Hong Kong government has canceled the franchise for Ho's jai alai fronton business and the permit for his Jumbo Palace casino-restaurant.

"This is the real reason why he towed that large floating restaurant here," he stressed.

Asked whether he has come across reports in the documents that Ho is connected to some criminal gangs, Herrera said there were allegations that the gambling tycoon is indeed involved in the illegal drug trade.

"I think we have to carefully assess him. That is why I am in favor of the order of the President for PNP (Philippine National Police) chief Ping Lacson to look into this matter," he said.

Rep. Roilo Golez (LAMP, Parañaque), chairman of the House committee on public order, made a similar appeal on Wednesday.

Golez said Ho should be given the benefit of the doubt until hard evidence is presented against him.

His committee is looking into reports that the Jumbo Palace owner is into illegal drugs.

Herrera said he will submit the Chinese documents in his possession to the Golez panel.

In other developments yesterday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Ho faces a 30-day jail term and a fine of about P60,000 for his company's failure to comply with environmental laws.

According to the agency, Ho's Manila Jumbo Palace Inc. (MJPI) failed to secure an environmental compliance certificate for the floating restaurant.

An inspection by the DENR showed that the Jumbo Palace will discharge at least 70 cubic meters of wastes a day in Manila Bay -- an area which the agency considers as environmentally critical.

"MJPI's development activities are expected to contribute additional adverse environmental impacts to the air and water environment of Manila Bay," Environment Secretary Antonio Cerilles said.

He said MJPI cannot just dump wastes in Manila Bay since this would violate environmental laws.

He ordered Ho's company to explain why it should not be penalized for such violations. -- With reports from Jess Diaz, Marvin Sy