CA orders scrutiny of 3 senators' bank accounts

MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals has ordered an examination of bank accounts of Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada and Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., who have been ordered jailed by the Sandiganbayan on plunder charges.

Associate Justice Manuel Barrios of the appellate court's Second Division issued the resolution on May 27 directing the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to scrutinize the assets of the accused, a dzMM report noted on Monday.

The resolution came before the Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant against the three senators supposedly involved in the pork barrel scam.

It stemmed from the AMLC's request for ex-parte application for the examination of bank accounts under the Security Bank, Land Bank of the Philippines, Bank of the Philippine Islands and Metrobank.

The AMLC was given 90 days for the scrutiny.

Enrile was accused of pocketing P172 million, while Estrada allegedly earned P183 million in kickbacks and Revilla got P242 million from businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles' supposed embezzlement scheme of Priority Development Assistance Funds.

The three are under custody at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Quezon City. - Camille Diola