Pubdate: Fri, 28 Jan 2005 Source: People's Tonight (Philippines) Copyright: Journal Group 2005 Contact: http://www.journal.com.ph/contactus.asp Website: http://www.journal.com.ph Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3454 Author: Rudy A. Kahulugan Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture) COURT FREEZES P1.3B OF SUSPECTED DRUG TRAFFICKERS THE Court of Appeals yesterday issued a freeze order on the bank accounts, amounting to P1.3 billion, of two suspected drug traffickers linked to the shabu laboratory in Mandaue City. The CA 8th Division gave credence to the findings of the Anti-Money Laundering Council that suspects Joseph Yu and Allan Yap Garcia have bank accounts with the Allied Bank and that the money "were the fruits of the crime of both suspects." The suspects were arrested by policemen after the house they were renting in Mandaue City was found to house a shabu laboratory. The suspected mastermind of the operations, Kelvin Tan, managed to elude arrest but was later nabbed in Hong Kong for yet another crime. Tan is not the subject of an extradition request by the Philippine government. The CA already issued an order to the main office of Allied Bank in Makati City to stop any of the suspects or even their relatives from withdrawing the money deposited in their facilities. The freeze order will last for 20 days but could be extended "as the need arises," said the CA order. - ---