DOJ chief orders new probe on 'Alabang Boys' prosecutor

(Updated 7:49 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez on Thursday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to reopen its probe on one of the state prosecutors who dismissed the drug charges against the so-called Alabang Boys. This was after the NBI received an anonymous letter alleging that some P1.6 million had been deposited to the accounts of state prosecutor John Resado and his wife, Rowena, in exchange for the release of Richard Brodett, Jorge Joseph, and Joseph Tecson. Gonzalez also asked the Anti-Money Laundering Council to look into the bank deposits of Resado to determine whether or not the deposits fall under the ambit of an anti-money laundering investigation "considering that Resado is involved with the Alabang Boys’ illegal drugs case." The letter, simply signed Juan de la Cruz, claimed two deposits worth P800,000 each were put into the accounts of the Resados last Dec. 2, 2008 – the date the DOJ dismissed the drug case against the three suspects – in a bank in Bacoor, Cavite. "Both these accounts have identical account numbers and I believe that further investigation on these deposits will confirm [Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency's] reports that our prosecutors were indeed bribed in the celebrated ‘Alabang Boys’ case," the letter read. The anonymous letter was reportedly faxed to the office of NBI Director Nestor Mantaring last Jan. 18. The NBI had earlier dismissed the bribery allegations against Resado and four other Justice officials, namely Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor, chief state prosecutor Jovencito Zuño, and prosecutors Philip Quimpo and Misael Legala. In a 33-page report released last Monday, the NBI said it found no strong evidence that could prove that the P50-million bribe was paid in exchange for the supposed release of drug suspects. But at a forum conducted by the Rotary Club of Intramuros, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Special Enforcement Services head Maj. Ferdinand Marcelino said the anonymous letter strengthened his claim that money changed hands in the dismissal of the drug charges against the suspects. Marcelino said that had the NBI conducted a more thorough probe on the bribery mess, it would not have immediately dismissed the bribery allegations against the DOJ prosecutors as hearsay and lacking in evidence. "I believe there was bribery involved. If the NBI had really conducted a thorough and clear investigation, dapat nakita yung before [they should have uncovered that before]," Marcelino said. In a hastily called press briefing, Resado admitted the P800,000 deposit but denied that it was bribe money. According to Resado, the amount was part of his and his wife’s revolving capital in their eight-year lending business in a market in Camiling, Tarlac. He said that they also own some dry goods and vegetable stalls in the market, which are being managed by their siblings. “Walang iniiwasan, walang tinatago. Dineposit iyan in good faith… galing sa malinis at legal ang perang ‘yan kaya wala kang dapat iwasan kahit makasabay kahit anong issue [I am not hiding anything. That money was deposited in good faith. There is nothing illegal about it]," he said. Resado however said he could not recall who deposited the amount. He also said that the anonymous letter was clearly intended to discredit him. "Ang pakiramdam ko ngayon masyado na ko pine-personal. Di ko na kayang patawarin ito, pati yung aming pinaghirapan sa matagal na panahon na pera na nanggaling sa malinis na paghahanap-buhay ay pinakialaman," Resado said. ["This is unforgivable. I feel this as a personal attack."] - GMANews.TV