Former envoy clarifies STAR report

A news item in your paper today (May 18) quoted PACC Commissioner Belgica re smuggling cases that the family of OIC City Prosecutor of Pasay, Benjamin B. Lanto is a close relative of the Macabando, the alleged family involved in the smuggling ring who was recently caught in flagrante and headlined in media outlets.

For the sake of truth, fairness and justice may we state, in the name of Allah (SWT) the following:

1. That the Lanto (of which I am the patriarch) has never been a relative of the Macabando either by blood or marriage. Although both family trace a common maranaw origin, the Macabando hail from Marawi City while the Lanto are from the towns of Wato (now Balindong) and Pualas, Lanao del Sur;

2. That implicating Benjamin Lanto to the serious crime of smuggling because of tribal affiliation is a travesty of justice and libelous because of the clear malice behind the falsehood;

3. That for the record, the case has not been dismissed by the Office of the City Prosecutor of Pasay and is still pending investigation. The only reason why it was not filed immediately was because the complainant Bureau of Customs failed to indicate the monetary value of each of the items allegedly smuggled but the complainant Bureau of Customs was given a period of time to comply with the requirement of the law, i.e., the valuation of the jewelries. This is a basic and essential element of the crime of smuggling which must be indicated in the information that will be filed incase of a finding of a probable cause; and 

Finally, linking the OIC City Prosecutor to the crime, merely on the wrong assumption of his relationship with the alleged criminals tramples upon the basic constitutional right of respondent Lanto and the height of injustice which cannot be countenance in a democracy where the majesty of the law is supposed to reign supreme. Please afford this explanation an equal space in your paper in the interest of truth and fairness. Thank you and Ramadan Kareem! – Former Ambassador Macabangkit B. Lanto, Patriarch of the Lanto Family, 22 Real Street, New Intramuros Village, Old Balara, Quezon City