The bank records of suspected narco-generals are now in the possession of the Department of Justice (DOJ) amid efforts to trace the billions of laundered drug money and hold accountable those involved in the illegal activity.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has turned over the documents related to the generals linked to the illegal drug trade after almost two months of sitting on the request.
Another government request will be made to the AMLC to turn over the financial records of other personalities linked to the illegal drug trade, according to Aguirre.
“The NBI made a second request concerning the narco-generals. We have them already,” Aguirre said in Filipino during a Palace press briefing.
“But with respect to the other bank accounts or bank account names na lumabas during the congressional hearing, hindi pa po masundan ng NBI iyon, eh. Dapat sana nasundan kaagad iyon,” he added, when asked if they have records that will prove Senator Leila De Lima’s involvement in the drug trade.
Aguirre said he has instructed some DOJ officials to follow up immediately with the AMLC the many bank account numbers where the high-profile drug lords supposedly deposited the drug money.
“I am sure that it will reach billions. Kaya iyan po ang sabi ko sa NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) kanina na dapat pasundan kaagad ninyo,” he said. (This is why I instructed the NBI to follow-up on this very closely).
President Duterte earlier warned the Central Bank and the AMLC to cooperate with the DOJ in running after those behind money laundering activities, especially those linkedto the narcotics trade. In less than two hours after the President’s sharp rebuke, the AMLC submitted the long-awaited report on persons involved in drug trafficking.
Aguirre said the AMLC did not explain to him the reason behind the delay and that he would no longer seek any explanation from the AMLC.
“I believe that there is no more explanation necessary, nandyan na ‘yan and so I believe that we have to move forward,” he said.
Aguirre has expressed frustration at the AMLC for being unhelpful in building the cases against De Lima and other drug personalities. The justice secretary recalled he mentioned his sentiment to the President, who later made a public rebuke of the BSP and the AMLC during the 80th anniversary of the NBI in Manila early this week.
He said the President’s concern with the AMLC stemmed from its failure to probe his alleged P200 million in bank deposits claimed by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV during the last presidential campaign.
“The President said the investigation by the AMLC should have been done to prove whether or not he has 211 million so that the people will not be left wondering if the allegation was true or not.
“If the report had come out on the President’s purported bank account earlier, he could have gotten more votes during the elections,” Aguirre added.
The post Bank Records of Suspected Narco-Generals now With the DOJ appeared first on Manila Bulletin.
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