Manila: The Philippine authorities have traced five bank accounts with a total of P88 million (Dh733,333) to associates of a former justice secretary who is now a senator.
Officials believe the money is linked to the illegal drug trade, reported Gulf News.
The amount could be higher as investigators have unearthed 10 bank accounts suspected to have been used to launder drug money, which was allegedly given to Senator Leila de Lima for the protection of drug lords, Justice Vitaliano Aguirrer reportedly said.
The drug lords continued to trade illegal drugs while serving time at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), a national penitentiary in suburban Muntinglupa, he added.
The Anti-Money Laundering Council has been to assist in verifying the bank records that were sent to the justice department by sources, Aguirre reportedly said, adding its report will be used in filing a case in court against de Lima.
“The link between the alleged drug money and de Lima is indirect because the bank accounts of alleged drug-tainted money belong to her companions, friends and employees,” said Aguirre when asked about the strength of a case to be filed against de Lima.
Her millionaire associates have no sources of income to explain their money in the bank, said Aguirre, adding that two relatives of de Lima’s driver and alleged lover Ronnie Dayan have drug-linked bank deposits, reported Gulf News.
Hannah Mae Dayan, the driver’s daughter, has accumulated P24 million (Dh2 million). She deposited P3 million (Dh250,000) on February 7, 2014; P9 million (Dh750,000) on February 21, 2014; P6 million (Dh500,000) on March 14, 2014 and P6 million (Dh500,000) on March 28, 2014, Aguirre was quoted as saying.
Marco Palisoc, a cousin of the driver, has P14.3 million (Dh1.19 million), several amounts of which were deposited in 2014, said Aguirre.
Jonathan Caranto, a former staff of de Lima has P24 million (Dh2 million) in his bank. Bogs Obuyes, also a former staff has P24 million (Dh2 million), and the latter’s elative, Marrel Obuyes has P2.2 million (Dh188,888), Aguirre added.
De Lima has denied the allegations. Several inmates and convicted Filipino drug lords and leaders of gangs of inmates at the NBP, including NBP officials, testified in a committee hearing of the House of Representatives that they sent money to de Lima for their protection, adding they sold shabu that they sourced from convicted foreign drug lords also to raise funds for her senatorial candidacy, reported Gulf News.
Illegal drug trade reached $8.4 billion a year in the Philippines in 2013, authorities reportedly said.
