Ricky Carandang of ABS-CBN News Channel last Friday reported that Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor deposited P2,644,438.92 in his account (4514-0005-07803) in Metrobank head office in Makati on Dec. 19, 2008, the day he called up Maj. Ferdinand Marcelino asking why Richard Brodett, Joseph Tecson, and Jorge Joseph were not yet released despite the resolution issued by the Department of Justice dismissing the charges against them.
Ricky said he was told that Blancaflor used a scheme commonly practiced in money laundering. You avail of a loan. Then pay with the “dirty money.”
Ricky’s source said Blancaflor availed of a loan in the amount of P2,642,187.23 also on Dec. 19, 2008. But he also deposited P2,644,438.92 on the same day.
Ricky said Blancaflor said he availed of a P7 million loan from Metrobank last April.
(I’m trying to contact Blancaflor for his side)
It will be recalled that despite the fact that Marcelino told him on Dec. 19 that Brodett, Tecson, and Joseph can’t be released because DOJ resolution still has to be reviewed by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Blancaflor, on Dec. 23, used his office to do messengerial service for the Alabang Boys’ lawyer, Atty. Felisardo Verano.
Blancaflor allowed his secretary to deliver the order to release the three prepared by Verano on a DOJ letterhead for signature of Gonzalez. The release order has yet to be acted upon by Gonzalez.
Blancaflor and Verano are fraternity brothers He also once helped the Brodetts with their tax case with the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
VERA Files, in its recent report of intra-feud of agencies involved in the fight agaist illegal drugs,said, “Blancaflor was first recruited to the Arroyo government by then National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales but never held office at the National Security Council.
“Instead, he was posted at Malacanang, manning the “war room” along with former military intelligence officer Col. Victor Corpus and then Presidential Management Staff chief (now Ambassador to Greece) Rigoberto Tiglao that closely monitored political developments, including Arroyo’s opponents.
“Blancafor has told friends that he mustered support for Arroyo in 2005 amid allegations of her hand in electoral fraud, documented in wiretapped phone conversations known as the “Hello, Garci” tapes. As members of the Cabinet were defecting, Blancaflor “shepherded” reporters to the Alabang residence of Fidel V. Ramos for the press conference during which the former president declared he was standing behind Arroyo.
“Blancaflor was later appointed undersecretary at the Department of National Defense and the DOJ, but without portfolio.
“Blancaflor and lawyer Felisberto Verano Jr., counsel for “Alabang Boys” Richard Brodett and Joseph Tecson, are contemporaries at the Ateneo de Manila Law School and brods at the fraternity Utopia. State Prosecutor John Resado, who dismissed the charges against the “Alabang Boys,” is Verano’s former law student at the Far Eastern University.”
Wait, there’s more!: Get cheap domain & hosting from plogHost Powering Ellen’s blog since 2005.