UPAC report on Ho fraudulent - Lacson

The Philippine National Police (PNP) dismissed yesterday as "fraudulent" a report by the United People Against Crime (UPAC) linking Macau gambling mogul Stanley Ho to an international drug syndicate.

On the other hand, Congress asserted that Ho was on the watch list of the United States Department of Justice for alleged involvement in criminal organizations.

In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP chief Deputy Director General Panfilo Lacson cited a report by the PNP Intelligence Group (PNP-IG) under Chief Superintendent Julius Garcia clearing Ho of any links with Chinese triads or criminal gangs.

Lacson said the PNP-IG conferred with the embassies of various countries where Ho allegedly operated criminally, but none confirmed UPAC's accusations.

"We have contacted the embassies of the various countries where Ho was supposed to have operated criminally, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but we found nothing to show that he was involved in either drugs or the Triad," Lacson said.

He said even the Canadian Embassy gave no information linking Ho to any criminal activity.

UPAC president Alejandro Melchor has claimed they were able to secure documents showing Ho's connection to the Triad.

"Up to now, there is no evidence (against Ho). But we will continue to verify. The UPAC report is outrightly wrong as we have talked with the Canadian Embassy and the Chinese Embassy, and they have not furnished us anything on Ho," Lacson said.

Lacson said President Estrada has already been informed about Ho's clean bill of health.

"The President was immediately advised correctly especially about people willing to invest in the country," he added.

He also said UPAC has not furnished the PNP of a copy of its purported documents on Ho.

On the other hand, Parañaque City Rep. Roilo Golez, chairman of the House committee on public order and security, told reporters that he has received a copy of a Feb. 1988 US justice department report listing 27 individuals as under watch for alleged involvement in organized crime.

Golez said he asked Justice Secretary Serafin Cuevas to inquire from his American counterpart if US authorities have any updated information on Ho.

The report, titled Asian Organized Crime, was made by William Weld, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the criminal division.

Seven of those in the watch list were operating in Boston, Massachusetts, 17 in California and three, among them Ho, were in Hong Kong and Macau.

The Golez committee is looking into reports that the gambling tycoon is involved in illegal drugs, an accusation which his Filipino business associates have denied.

Ho is chairman of Best World Resources which is under investigation for alleged stock manipulation at the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Pangasinan Rep. Hernani Braganza said earlier that Ho was involved in the 1996 campaign finance scandal in the US.

Braganza said Ho, like presidential friend Mark Jimenez, was wanted by the US authorities for illegal campaign contributions.

Administration officials, including Maj. Gen. Jose Calimlim, chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, have said they have nothing incriminating on Ho.

Meanwhile, Ho assured the Philippine government that he would help protect Manila Bay where his controversial floating restaurant Manila Jumbo Palace is presently docked.

Ho made the assurance to Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Antonio Cerilles through Jumbo Palace vice president Steve Kelan.

Kelan promised to construct a sewage treatment facility to the sewer line of the Cultural Center of the Philippines to avoid direct discharge of waste water to Manila Bay.

The restaurant, which started operating last Sunday, has a capacity of 810 people and produces about 70 cubic meters of garbage a day.

Kelan has also reportedly admitted that they did not know that they would have to comply with Presidential Decree 1586 requiring business establishments to secure an Initial Environmental Examination from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Cerilles has reportedly apprised the Jumbo Palace management of the requirement of the law before the floating restaurant could start operating.