‘Ping paid P1.5 M for ISAFP report’

Sen. Panfilo Lacson allegedly shelled out P1.5 million in exchange for a 15-page report prepared by a joint police and military intelligence team that went to Hong Kong and the United States to gather evidence on his supposed hidden wealth.

Camp Crame sources said a certain Aileen Pascua, associated with the People’s Movement Against Poverty (PMAP), peddled the "unsigned" document, dated June 28, which was allegedly prepared by the team leader, Col. Mario Chan of the Intelligence Services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP).

Police sources said they traced the leak of the document, classified by ISAFP chief Col. Victor Corpus as "confidential," to one of the assets of Director Reynaldo Acop, former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Narcotics Group.

Lacson used the document to berate Corpus for relying on police undercover agent Mary "Rosebud" Ong who was supposedly dismissed in the report by the US Customs Service as a "witness without credibility."

Lacson quoted a portion of the report as saying the statements of Ong to US officials in Hong Kong and the US were "full of inconsistencies, half-truths and half-lies."

But another portion of the same report showed the results of the meeting between the Philippine team and US officials which was described as "a significant breakthrough."

"The US Customs Service will commence with the formal investigation on allegations that Lacson is involved in large-scale money laundering activities in the United States," the report added.

It also allegedly confirmed the two bank accounts of Lacson, and his wife Alice, in the US.

Lacson’s account with the Bank of America was opened with an initial amount of $18,000 while Alice’s account in Van Nuys, California has an estimated deposit of $20 million, according to the report.

The trip had also developed mutual understanding and cooperation between the military and police and the US Customs Service authorities in convening an official probe on Lacson’s supposed money-laundering activities.

"The mission was a significant breakthrough and step closer in the government’s quest to bring Panfilo Lacson to the bar of justice," the document read.

"The mission was able to successfully provide US federal authorities sufficient information to warrant the start of formal investigation of Lacson for possible violations of US laws, particularly the money laundering case and the RICO statutes," it added

The joint police-military team consisted of Chan, Ong, police Senior Superintendent Rodolfo "Boogie" Mendoza, SPO1 Egdon Liscano, lawyer Stephen Jarumay and businesswoman Blanquita Pelaez. — Christina Mendez