THE government seemed excessively eager on forcing the mouse out of its rathole following the Court of Appeals issuance of a freeze order on 10 bank accounts, 7 real properties, 5 motor vehicles and an aircraft supposedly owned by fugitive Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
In granting the petition filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council, the CA in its August 6 order covered 47 bank accounts, 16 real properties and 16 motor vehicles registered under the name of the KOJC.
According to the CA, the freeze order was meant to prevent the fugitive pastor from using the group’s funds and assets in evading justice even as the appellate noted that the donations were deposited to the KOJC’s Philippine accounts to fund the construction of a stadium and Quiboloy’s “lavish lifestyle”, among others.
The solicited money, the CA added, was smuggled into the Philippines by KOJC members, adding that the monthly income of KOJC administrators don’t seem commensurate with their financial profiles.
The CA also took note of unusual deposits withdrawal and remittance transactions among KOJC officials for which a freeze order is deemed “appropriate and judicious.”
Interestingly, the CA issued a freeze order that would only be valid for 20 days.
“In order to avoid the possibility of the funds in the subject bank accounts and/or properties from being withdrawn, removed, transferred, concealed or placed beyond the reach of law enforcers, this court finds it appropriate and judicious to issue a 20-day freeze order as prayed for by petitioner over said bank accounts, including all other related or materially-linked accounts, and the real and personal properties enumerated in the ex-parte petition,” the CA said.
The decision was signed by Associate Justice Gabriel Robeniol.
Likewise ordered “frozen” are the accounts of Maria Teresita Dandan, Helen Pagaduan Panilag, Paulene Chavez Canada, Cresente Chavez Canada, Ingrid Chavez Canada, Sylvia Calija Cemañes, Jackielyn Wong Roy, Alona Mertalla Santander, Marlon Bongas Acoo, Children’s Joy Foundation, Inc. and Swara Sug Media Corporation.
“The verified allegations in the petition as well as the supporting documents attached thereto give the court reasonable ground to believe that the bank accounts enumerated above are indeed linked to unlawful activities and predicate crimes,” the CA said. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
