Lacson’s P150-M mansions bared

Apart from the reported rich dollar deposits in the United States, Sen. Panfilo Lacson also allegedly owns two mansions in Ayala Alabang in Muntinlupa City and in BF Homes in Parañaque City with a combined value of at least P150 million.

A team of police and justice department investigators showed to journalists video footage featuring Lacson’s three-story, 10-room mansion on No. 233 San Jose street in Ayala Alabang with a lot area of 1,600 square meters.

The property’s value was assessed at P85 million to P90 million.

The second mansion, valued at P60 million to P65 million, is located on No. 280 El Grande street, BF Homes, Parañaque City. It allegedly serves as Lacson’s office and guest house.

"It is where he receives and entertains visitors, friends and business partners," an investigator said.

The investigators said both properties were never listed in Lacson’s yearly statement of assets and liabilities (SAL).

Lacson, former chief of the Philippine National Police and the controversial Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force, also owns a house and lot worth P45 million to P50 million on No. 25 Kirishima street, BF Thai, Parañaque City.

The justice department, through the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), was also looking at alleged money laundering activities of Lacson who was accused of amassing illegal wealth through drug trafficking and kidnapping for ransom.

An informant who furnished the video and the information to the NBI also claimed that Lacson’s wife and children frequently visited the Ayala-Alabang property.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and the committee on public order and illegal drugs have investigated Lacson on charges of money laundering, drug trafficking and kidnapping for ransom.

In their report to the plenary, the chairmen of the Senate committees that conducted the inquiry recommended Lacson’s prosecution on the charges leveled against him.

In his 1999 SAL, Lacson declared his net worth at P3.3 million, but the amount swelled to P19 million as of last year when he assumed the top PNP post under the failed Estrada administration.

Lacson clarified that the house in Ayala Alabang was held by Megastar Real Estate, a company he put up with some friends with a subscribed capital of only P2 million.

"It was a build-and-sell venture of the company that costs some P33 million. Of this amount, P18 million was raised through a personal loan granted to the company by a friend of Senator Lacson while the balance of P15 million came from a bank loan out of the Banco de Oro credit line of Chong Hok Teng Ong, a shareholder of the firm (Megastar)," a statement released by Lacson’s office stated.

The statement also said Lacson’s investment with Megastar was reflected in his 2001 SAL

On the other hand, Lacson denied ownership of the house on El Grande.

"Their house is located along Kirishima street, also in BF Homes, Parañaque," the statement said.

It added that the senator bought a house in the United States, but was not able to meet the amortizations and was forced to sell it at cost with the remaining balance assumed by the buyer. — With Aurea Calica