Money launder charges eyed vs Gringo’s friend

Government investigators are looking into possible money laundering activities by Ingrid Ramos, the mystery woman who provided refuge to former senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan during his months in hiding.

Sources said investigators are verifying reports that Ramos benefited or is keeping some of the money raised by Honasan — who was arrested last Wednesday at her townhouse in Greenmeadows subdivision, Quezon City — to finance attempts to overthrow the Arroyo administration.

Investigators will seek assistance from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to assess the assets of Ramos, whose relationship with Honasan is the subject of intrigue and reportedly caused a spat between the senator and his wife, Jane.

"We are looking into the possibility that Honasan has somehow laundered money using Ramos. We will check her background, including her wealth and her capability and means to acquire her existing property," said a police officer who requested anonymity.

Sources said agents from the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will gather evidence to determine the extent of Ramos’ relationship with Honasan and his activities.

There are reports that Honasan and Ramos are lovers and they have a son, but those reports are not verified.

Honasan was nabbed for the rebellion charges filed against him for his alleged participation in the Oakwood mutiny on July 27, 2003 in Makati.

Sources said Ramos is a businesswoman and has many real estate properties.

Aside from a unit at the posh Enclave Townhomes in Greenmeadows in Barangay Ugong, Quezon City, where Honasan was arrested, there are reports that Ramos also owns a house at 119 Magnolia St., Garden Ridge subdivision, Capancalan in Mandaue, Cebu and another house on Topaz Drive, Emerald Homes also in Capancalan.

Reports also indicated that Ramos has another house in Cebu, which is a replica of her townhouse in Greenmeadows.

"Investigators are also checking the land titles and other documents of the properties to determine when Ramos acquired them," the source added.

Honasan, 58, who carries a P5-million reward for his arrest, had refused to comment on alleged money laundering activities. CIDG director Chief Superintendent Jesus Verzosa said investigators have already established that the former senator stayed at the Enclave townhouse "for a while before he was arrested."

"As to the previous instances whereby she (Ingrid) might have harbored the senator, we still have to collate information or evidence against her," said Verzosa.

Ramos, who was at the townhouse when Honasan was captured by CIDG agents, was not arrested and was left at her house after the police operation. Police said Ramos will be summoned soon for further investigation.

Verzosa said other intelligence units will be tapped to conduct further investigation on Ramos and other persons who could have provided shelter to Honasan.

The former senator went underground for nine months shortly after he was also implicated in another coup attempt last Feb. 24 that was allegedly spearheaded by Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim of the Army Scout Rangers.

Verzosa said agents of the NBI and CIDG will go to the Department of Justice on Monday to subscribe to the complaint-affidavit on the rebellion charges against several suspects.

He said the hearing for the venue of Honasan’s detention will be held on Tuesday at the Makati City Regional Trial Court . "So technically, we (police) are allowed and we are still in custody of Sen. Honasan."

Honasan is now confined at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City for treatment of his right foot after he suffered a deep laceration and a fractured left heel when he tried to evade arresting officers.

Senior Superintendent Francisco Altarejos, an orthopedic surgeon of the PNP General Hospital, who initially treated Honasan, said the patient could be discharged from hospital soon.

"We are contemplating on detaining him at (Fort Santo Domingo) Sta. Rosa or at Camp Vicente Lim or in Bicutan. Sta. Rosa siguro dahil mas maganda ang security arrangements doon," Verzosa added. 

Caught with the other

Honasan and another rebel officer have apparently suffered the same fate after they were both caught in the company of "the other" woman.

For Honasan it was Ingrid Ramos and for Oakwood mutiny leader Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon it was Army Capt. Candelaria Rivas, a lawyer of the Judge Advocate General’s Office (JAGO).

Faeldon was arrested last Jan. 27 after he picked up Rivas in a shopping mall in Quezon City wherein military intelligence agents followed them to her house on Gov. Pascual St. in Malabon.

"It all shows their double standard. They (rebel soldiers) always invoke reforms. How can you believe people like that to be serious about reforms when they could not even reform themselves?" said Brig. Gen. Carlos Holganza, commander of the Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade based in Mawab, Compostela Valley.

Holganza said for all the idealism and pursuit of reforms that both Honasan and Faeldon have been espousing to the point that they led coup attempts against the government, and after running from the law, they fell into the hands of authorities in the company of "women."

"You could see them in media strongly pushing for the reforms they were espousing but in the end, they were caught by their own weakness," Holganza said.

He said the situation that both Honasan and Faeldon found themselves in when they were arrested also showed their weakness, and it was with women.

A number of military and police officers interviewed by The STAR during a conference here at the Marco Polo Hotel, agreed that the downfall of both Honasan and Faeldon, in a way affected their credibility.

The arrest of Honasan, founder of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement, which is also known as Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabayan, reportedly caused a spat with his wife Jane upon knowing the circumstances of his arrest inside Ramos’ townhouse.

Faeldon was the escapee who taunted government with video clips showing him in public places, including military headquarters such as the Armed Forces Southern Command in Zamboanga City and the Central Visayas Command in Cebu City. He escaped in Makati last Dec. 14, 2005 after a court hearing on the failed 2003 Oakwood mutiny.

Chief Superintendent Francisco Villaroman, of the Southern Mindanao regional police office, stressed that the arrests of Honasan and Faeldon were both carried out by the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP).

"It is the way with those in the intelligence community, including the ISAFP, that they use women as their assets. That was why ISAFP knew who to trail if they want to trace their subjects," Villaroman said.

"The hunted would avoid familiar associations like family, friends and colleagues, which the hunter would logically use to track down the hunted. The women in their cases were not familiar faces while the other in the case of Faeldon was one of the investigating officers who was not expected to be associated with him," another source said. - Edith Regalado, Myleth Katleen Dalisay