MANILA—The Philippines has formally asked the US government to freeze the assets of Janet Napoles in the United States, a source privy to the request told the Inquirer.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Department of Justice officials recently went to the US embassy to formally submit and discuss the request
“The Philippine government requested that properties acquired by JLN and her family be frozen pending resolution of the cases filed against them,’’ the source said.
He added that “the request was done due to the time element of the proceedings and because plunder has a civil aspect of forfeiture if illegally obtained wealth is proven.’’
The US property forms part of Napoles’ many real estate assets, estimated to be worth at least P5 billion on the basis of records Napoles’ book keeper submitted to the DOJ.
“The forfeiture proceedings have a time element, that’s why all identified assets here and abroad should be frozen pending the resolution of the case,’’ the source explained. “The freezing of the assets is to ensure that the stolen money can be returned to the National Treasury in the event that the properties are proved to have been illegaly acquired.”
The source added that the request was anchored on the plunder charges filed against Napoles at the Office of the Ombudsman for preliminary investigation to determine if enough eveidence exists to warrant filing them in court.
“These cases will then be filed before the Sandiganbayan where criminal trial and forfeiture proceedings will begin,’’ the source said.
The Napoles US properties identified in the request included the following:
• The Anaheim Express Inn, registered under Western Investment Corp. with address at 620 W Orangewood Avenue, Anaheim, California. The company is allegedly owned by Napoles’ brother Reynald Lim, and children James Christopher and Jo Christine .
• No. 32 Wedgewood, Canyon View in Irvine, California, also registered under Lim and his wife Ana Marie Dulguime.
• A two-bedroom apartment in the Ritz Carlton at 900 Olympic Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, registered under the name of another daughter, Catherine Jeane.
• Covina County Commercial Property in West Covina, Califnornia, registered under the Western Ventures management Inc. 19545 E. Cienega Avenue. The company’s two other addresses were Covina CA 91724 and 620 W. Orangewood Ave. Anaheim CA 92802. Listed as officers in the company were Lim and two older children of Napoles.
The source said that US legal procedures would be followed in the forfeiture proceedings under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.
Napoles has been accused of pocketing billions of pesos in taxpayers’ money in connivance with lawmakers and other individuals.
source: newsinfo.inquirer.net
