CA thumbs down inspection of Zaldy's frozen assets

The Court of Appeals has denied suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Rizaldy "Zaldy" Ampatuan's appeal to have his frozen bank accounts and assets inspected. In a two-page resolution, the appellate court's Former Special Second Division said Zaldy's motion for reconsideration was unsubstantial to warrant a ruling in his favor. Zaldy and co-petitioners Adham Patadn and Nelia Garde wanted to obtain copes of the written returns submitted by the banking and financial institutions handling the assets and accounts of the petitioners. But the CA ruled that the appeal was merely a rehash of the petitioners' previous arguments. "A careful perusal of the Urgent Ex-Parte Motion for Reconsideration, as well as the Comment thereto, shows that the grounds relied upon in the said motion are mere reiteration of the matters already considered and passed upon in our resolution, and the the arguments raised therein are too unsubstantial to warrant a reconsideration thereof. We, therefore, find no compelling reason to modify or reverse our resolution," said the CA. Court of Appeals Associate Justice Celia Librea-Leagogo wrote the resolution, which was concurred in by Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr and Associate Justice Elihu Ybanez. The CA's freeze order remains in effect until Dec. 2, 2011. The issuance of the order stems from the request of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), which has argued that the Ampatuans may have used the accounts and properties in committing fraud, such as amassing up to P1 billion in ill-gotten wealth. Last June, the appellate court granted the AMLC's plea. "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are related to unlawful activities; and that unless frozen, the funds in the subject accounts will certainly be withdrawn and the other identified properties disposed of, thereby placing them beyond the reach of the law," the CA said. 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. At least five aggrieved parties have contested the CA's freeze order: Maguindanao and Cotabato City First District Rep. Bai Sandra Sinsuat Ampatuan Sema, Bai Monadja Ampatuan Abdullah, Soraida Biruar Ampatuan, the Maguindanao Electric Cooperative, and a certain Dr. Tahir Sulaik. However, in its resolution, the CA said the motions are denied "for lack of merit." — RSJ, GMA News