The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has snubbed the request of the Supreme Court for details on the bank accounts of one of the judges publicly named by President Rodrigo Duterte last year as involved in illegal drugs.
A highly-placed source said a letter was sent to the AMLC requesting assistance in its investigation against Baguio Regional Trial Court Branch 1 Judge Antonio Reyes.
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However, the source said AMLC has not responded to their request.
Last year, Duterte assailed AMLC for refusing to cooperate with the government’s investigation against those involved in illegal drug trade.
AMLC is mandated to implement the provisions of Republic Act 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering act of 2001. Its primary duty is to preserve the integrity and confidentiality of bank accounts and ensure that the Philippines shall not be used as a money laundering site for the proceeds of any unlawful activity.
“The Secretary of Justice now said you are hard to deal with. You better go to the Secretary of Justice or I will go to you,” Duterte then said.
After Duterte’s threat, AMLC has provided the Department of Justice (DOJ) documents on the accounts believed to be used as conduit in the narcotics trade inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP). But Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the documents provided were incomplete.
The Supreme Court is investigating Judge Reyes following the recommendation of retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Roberto Abad.
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Abad has been ordered to conduct a fact-finding investigation on the involvement of several judges mentioned by Duterte. He already submitted a report clearing Judges Exequil Dagala of the Dapa-Socorro, Surigao Municipal Circuit Trial Court, Adriano Savilla of Iloilo City RTC and Domingo Casiple of Kalibo, Aklan RTC after the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) failed to submit evidence against the three.
In the case of Reyes, Abad said the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA) submitted an affidavit showing that he has been receiving P50,000 in exchange for the dismissal of drug charges pending in his sala. IDL