US probing Mikey, wife for money laundering

MANILA, Philippines - The United States is investigating Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo and his wife Ma. Angela allegedly for money laundering, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima confirmed yesterday.

"The Department of Justice (DOJ), as central authority under the Philippines-US Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), had received already an official request for assistance from the US relative to that probe,” De Lima told The STAR.

She, however, refused to reveal details of the case due to the confidentiality rule under the MLAT and the lack of authority from the requesting country.

Ruy Rondain, legal counsel of Arroyo, said the DOJ has implicated the congressman by mere publicity.

"I find it anomalous that the Justice department would titillate the public by claiming that the US government is investigating Rep. Mikey Arroyo, but at the same time refuse to divulge 'details' because the investigation is supposedly 'confidential,'" he said.

"If it's confidential, why disclose the fact of the investigation at all? Besides, the tax cases have been filed against Mikey. So what is the confidential data that the DOJ is reserving for the American authorities..."

De Lima also did not say whether the probe has anything to do with the couple's properties in the US.

"The probe involving Mikey and Angela Arroyo is being conducted by US authorities. What is requested from us is simply assistance under the MLAT," she explained.

The couple is facing a P73.85-million tax evasion case in the Philippines.

However, they have been reportedly flying to and from the US.

On the other hand, US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. was mum on the investigation report.

"I can’t comment on that,” Thomas said.

Denial

Asked about the case, Arroyo declined to comment on the money laundering report.

Arroyo said he was confined in the hospital for severe back and chest pains.

"I’m sorry, but not now, I’m in the hospital and I will have to undergo several medical tests,” Arroyo said. “I will be under sedation soon.”

He refused to disclose where he was confined.

Arroyo has made at least a couple of trips to San Francisco since last year.

He said he met donors for his scholarship programs.

Ruy Rondain, Arroyo’s legal counsel, said that the issue of Mikey's SALN is already pending in Philippine courts.

"The DOJ shouldn't comment on that publicly. In any case I have serious doubts that the American government cares about whether or not Mikey Arroyo completed his SALN accurately," Rondain said, adding the DOJ should assert supremacy on a matter of domestic law. – Pia Lee-Brago, Paolo Romero