CA extends freeze order vs assets of Ampatuan clan

The Court of Appeals (CA) has extended the enforcement of the freeze order it issued against the bank accounts and properties of the Ampatuan clan, some of whose members are the principal suspects in the Maguindanao massacre case. In a five-page resolution issued on Monday, the CA extended the effectivity of the freeze order until July 25, 2011 as it resolves the pending motions to lift the order. The freeze order was supposed to ended on June 26, or 20 days after CA issued the order. "....for greater caution and to avoid confusion, and pending this court's resolution of the numerous motions to lift freeze order, as well as its resolution on whether or not to extend the same for a period not exceeding 6 months, the effectivity of the freeze order is, in the meantime, extended up to 25 July 2011," the CA said. The court likewise said government agencies and banking institutions that will fail to comply with the freeze order risk being cited in contempt by the court. "For the last time, these government agencies and covered institutions are ordered to submit to this court the detailed return and relevant information as stated in the freeze order, within 24 hours from notice hereof and to show cause within the same period why they should not be cited for contempt of court under Rule 71 of the Rules of Court, for failing to comply with the freeze order," said the CA. On June 6, the CA said the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has established that the Ampatuans may have used the accounts and properties in committing fraud, such as amassing up to P1 billion in ill-gotten wealth. "We agree with petitioner that probable cause exists that the subject bank accounts and other described properties of the respondents in the petition are related to unlawful activities; and that unless frozen, the funds in the subject accounts will certainly be withdrawn and the other identified properties disposed of, thereby placing them beyond the reach of the law," the CA said in granting the AMLC's plea. The accounts and properties in question belong to 28 members of the Ampatuan family members, led by patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. and suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Rizaldy "Zaldy" Ampatuan. The freeze order covers the Ampatuans' accounts and properties in the following agencies and banking institutions: