CA freezes arrested drug suspect’s assets

The Court of Appeals (CA) has frozen the bank accounts and assets of an alleged drug dealer who was arrested by antinarcotics policemen early this year while supposedly selling illegal drugs in Quezon City.

The appellate court’s 20-day freeze order covers the bank deposits, vehicles and other property owned by Renato Go, a supposed major supplier of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) in Metro Manila.

Also included in the order are the  property and bank accounts in Banco de Oro, Metrobank, Union Bank and United Coconut Planters Bank registered under the name of Go’s wife,  Evelyn, Kelly Lou Go and Ken-Che Enterprises.

The appellate court issued the order upon the request of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and Philippine National Police.

In its seven-page memorandum, the appellate court said the petition filed by the AMLC was sufficient in form.

“(A)fter a judicious examination of the ex-parte petition, the petition is found to be sufficient in form (and) probable cause was found to exist to justify the issuance of a freeze order,” stated the ruling authored by Associate Justice Michael Elbinias.

Concurring with Elbinias were Associate Justices Remedios Salazar-Fernando and Celia Librea-Leagogo.

The court directed the Land Transportation Office and bank officials to “submit by personal delivery” their compliance report on the freeze order.

According to court records, Go was arrested in an entrapment operation carried out by antinarcotics personnel of the National Capital Region Police Office on Araneta Avenue, Quezon City on March 12.

Go, also known as Wu Na Mai, purportedly sold over 3.7 kilograms of shabu to a poseur buyer. He was immediately charged for violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2000.

While Go admitted that he had no regular job, the AMLC said a scrutiny of his bank accounts showed that he had received significant amounts a few months before he was arrested.

But after the arrest, the AMLC said several withdrawals were made from Go’s accounts while those owned by his wife increased significantly, “indicating that the transactions seem to pass through her accounts and were made… in rounded figures.”