Ampatuans stand to lose estates?

Ombudsman orders penalty proceedings vs Ampatuan estate

THE Office of the Ombudsman has directed the filing of a petition to initiate penalty proceedings against the estate of former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his spouse Bai Laila Ampatuan for properties acquired from 2002 to 2007 amounting to P54,965,526.88.

After conducting a lifestyle check investigaA tion, the Ombudsman investigators found that the wealth of Ampatuan Sr. is out of proportion to his salary as former governor of Maguindanao and to their other lawful income and income from legitimately acquired properties.

Based on a report issued by the Ombudsman dated January 26

this year, Ampatuan Sr. has acquired P54,965,526.88 total unexplained wealth from 2002 to 2007. The accused has assimilated P6,057,896.91 in 2002; P2,157,596.33 in 2003; P2,011,672.08 in 2005; P612,829.22 in 2006; and P44,125,532.34 in 2007.

As reported, the former governor's income last 2002 was only P310,773.09; P1,196,403.67 in 2003; P1,560,327.92 in 2005; P1,560,170.78 in 2006 and P1,608,120.76 in 2007, and yet his total expenditures per year exceeded more than from what he has earned.

The total expenditures (real property, vehicles and firearms) of the former governor reached to P6,368,670 last 2002; P3,354,000 in 2003; P3,572,000 in 2005; P2,173,000 in 2006 and P18,505,250 in 2007. Ampatuan Sr. challenged the Ombudsman findings and reiterated that the properties he allegedly owns were either registered to other individuals. ICT(For full story visit www. sunstar.com.ph/davao/)