Gordon to AMLC: Explain failure to freeze Bolante accounts

Sen. Richard Gordon wants the Anti-Money Laundering Council to explain why the funds of former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante were not forfeited before the Court of Appeals lifted the freeze order on his 32 bank accounts.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, the Senate Blue Ribbon committee chairman said AMLC Executive Director Vicente Aquino and Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera must clarify why no civil forfeiture case was filed against Bolante during the six months that his bank accounts were frozen.

“Six months, the maximum period of the freeze order the law allowed, had lapsed without a single civil forfeiture case being filed against Mr. Bolante,” he said.

“The AMLC has been remiss in running after these suspicious Bolante accounts.”

Gordon said the AMLC should have asked the court to attach Bolante’s bank accounts while the CA’s freeze order was still in effect.

“During the six-month period, they should have filed for preliminary attachment, forfeiture or extension,” he said.

“Clearly, this was not done by AMLC, and ergo, they are remiss in their duties.”

Gordon said now that the freeze order has already expired, Bolante can no longer be prevented from withdrawing his funds.

“The legal impediment has now been practically lifted,” he said.

Gordon said the AMLC and the Solicitor General should file for forfeiture under the Rules on Civil Procedure and take all legal actions available to prevent the dissipation of Bolante’s 32 bank accounts.

“These accounts could possibly involve money from the fertilizer fund the Senate is now investigating,” he said.

“In the interest of public accountability, these accounts should remain frozen.”

Gordon said the Blue Ribbon committee is now focused on finding out where the P728-million fertilizer fund for the Department of Agriculture’s farm input-farm implement project went.

“We already know that the P50 million went to Feshan,” he said. – Aurea Calica