Cancellation of passports of 22 people linked to Malampaya fund scam eyed

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Friday said they were also studying asking the Department of Foreign Affairs to cancel the passports of 22 individuals facing plunder charges in connection with the P900-million Malampaya fund scam.

“The case here is large-scale graft and corruption. I think it is timely to study such option to give teeth to our fight against graft and corruption,” De Lima told reporters in a chance interview.

Last Oct. 3, the NBI filed plunder and graft cases against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and 21 others. Aside from Arroyo, included in the complaint are former Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, former Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, former DAR Undersecretary Narciso Nieto, Teresita Panlilio, former DAR Finance and Management Service (DAR-FMS) and current OIC Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) Secretariat, former Budger and Management Secretary (now Congressman) Rolando Andaya Jr., Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos, Candaba Mayor Rene Maglanque, Angelita Cacananta, Nilda Baui, Dominador Sison Jr. and Ronald Venancio.

Also named in the complaint were Janet Lim Napoles, Ruby Tuason as well as presidents and employees of Napoles NGOs including Evelyn de Leon, Jesus Castillo (JLN driver), dalangpan Sang Amon Utod Kag Kasimanwa Foundation; Lilian Espanol (househelp) of Saganang Buhay Sa Atin Foundation Inc.; Genevieve Uy (family friend) Kasaganahan Para Sa Magsasaka Foundation inc.; Ronald John Lim (nephew) Ginintuang Alay Sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc.; Eulogio Rodriguez (JLN Corporate Driver), Ginintuang Pangkabuhayan Foundation Inc; Lorna Ramirez ( wife of JLN security), Masaganang Buhay Foundation Inc; Ronald Francisco Lim (JLN brother), Micro Agri Business Citizens Initiative Foundation Inc., and John Raymund de Asis (JLN security), Kaupdan Para sa Mangunguma Foundation Inc.

On Thursday, the Department of Justice sought the cancellation of the passports of 37 people allegedly involved in the pork barrel scam. Included in the 37 were Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr.