Former suspects in Ces Drilon kidnapping face money laundering raps

The government has filed an anti-money laundering case against a former mayor of Indanan, Sulu and his son for allegedly pocketing a portion of the P5-million ransom paid for the release of a kidnapped television news crew two years ago. The complaint against former Mayor Alvarez Isnaji and son Haider, who had earlier been cleared of involvement in the kidnapping, was filed Tuesday by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) before the Department of Justice (DOJ). AMLC accused the Isnajis of pocketing P3 million in the ransom paid for the release of ABS-CBN broadcaster Ces Drilon and her cameramen Angelo Valderrama and Jimmyfred Encarnacion, and university professor Octavio Dimampo, who were kidnapped by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in June 2008. The Pasig Regional Trial Court has cleared Isnaji and Haider in the kidnapping case due to lack of evidence against them. According to the AMLC, the Isnajis made a series of significant bank transactions, deposits, and withdrawals after acting as negotiators in the kidnapping. “There is reasonable ground to believe that respondent Mayor Alvarez and Haider Isnaji, knowing fully well that they were dealing with proceeds of the unlawful activity of kidnapping for ransom, transacted the same through the banks, thereby making them appear as having originated from legitimate sources. Such acts constitute money laundering," a portion of the complaint said. The AMLC said despite their acquittal, the Isnajis can still be held accountable for money laundering based on the testimony of Police Superintendent Winnie Quidato executed on February 20, 2009 for the kidnap-for-ransom case. In his affidavit, Quidato revealed that he was present when Drilon’s brother, Frank, delivered the P5 million to then Sulu vice governor Lady Ann Sahidula, who, in turn, gave the money to Isnaji, paving the way for the release of Valderrama. Quidato also said that Isnaji admitted to him that he delivered only P2 million to the Abu Sayyaf. “Clearly, Mayor Isnaji pocketed part of the ransom money that was paid by the family of the victim," the AMLC said in its complaint. The AMLC also noted that the transactions made by the Isnajis were not commensurate to their financial capacity. Among these transactions were: - The P900,000 deposit to the savings account no. 5145076295 with the Philippine National Bank-Climaco Branch in Zamboanga City on June 13, 2008, or a day after they received the P5-million ransom from Frank;