Manila Court issues gag order on Binay forfeiture case

The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 53 has issued a gag order to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay in the forfeiture case.

Atty. Claro Certeza, counsel for the Vice President said the court stressed that forfeiture proceedings are confidential.

“This is a confidential proceeding according to the court and if you will give interviews, you will be cited for contempt and we have to respect that,” Certeza told reporters after the hearing.

Covered by the forfeiture case filed by AMLC are 139 bank accounts and 19 real properties under the names of the Vice President, suspended Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” S. Binay Jr., Gerardo Limlingan Jr., Ernesto Mercado, Antonio Tiu and 47 others.

READ: Binay camp protests asset seizure during poll period

While Certeza refused to give details of Monday’s hearing, Certeza said they filed an Omnibus Motion questioning the forfeiture case.

The Binay camp pointed out that the forfeiture case is a violation of Republic Act 1379 or the Act Declaring Forfeiture in Favor of the State Any Property Found to Have Been Unlawfully Acquired By Any Public Officer or Employee and Providing for the Proceedings Therefore.

Under the said law, filing of forfeiture proceeding is prohibited within one year before any general election or within three months before any special election.

Based on the AMLC petition, the Manila RTC issued a 20-day “Provisional Asset Protection Order” on November 13 on several accounts, including only one account in the name of the Vice President. CDG

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