Freeze order on suspected MILF bank accounts lapses

MANILA, Philippines–The Court of Appeals has allowed to expire a freeze order on the bank accounts of a senior Moro Islamic Liberation Front leader.

The appellate court Former First Division said the freeze order on the bank accounts of arrested MILF central committee member Eduard Guerra, alias Abraham Yap Alonto, had expired in June.

The freeze order covered accounts in Maybank, Metrobank, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, Banco de Oro, Bank of the Philippine Islands and Land Bank of the Philippines.

“Considering that six months have already elapsed since the expiration of the original 20-day period on January 9, 2012, the extended freeze order should be deemed to have automatically expired on July 9, 2012,” said the ruling penned by Justice Mariflor Castillo.

Associate Justices Andres Reyes Jr. and Franchito Diamante concurred with the decision.Guerra’s co-accused in the case included his wife Jocelyn, a certain Joseph Allan Jungoy Chan, and the firms Al Nissah General Merchant, Beauty Rich Trading, Sharif Interior and EJ & P Builders.

The tribunal issued an initial 20-day freeze order on Dec. 20, 2011 after the Anti-Money Laundering Council alleged that they were supposedly being used to fund the MILF.

On the other hand, Guerra was arrested in September 2010 while trying to enter the Davao International Airport heading to Geneva, Switzerland for a United Nations Human Rights Council meeting.

Guerra was accused of participating in an attack on Maasim, Sarangani on Aug. 16, 2008 after the Supreme Court nullified the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD) between the MILF and the Arroyo administration.

Guerra denied being involved in the attack, pointing out that MILF denounced the raid and also disowned any role in it. The MILF also asked the government to release Guerra, who is said to be suffering from hypertension, arthritis, diabetes and heart problems.