Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has ordered the seizure of the undeclared properties of deceased former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Jr. and his wife Bai Laila Uy Ampatuan worth more than P54.9 million.
In initiating forfeiture proceedings against his estate, Morales said Ampatuan’s wealth “is manifestly out of proportion to respondent’s salary as former governor of Maguindanao and their lawful income and income from legitimately acquired properties.”
The anti-graft czar said Ampatuan did not declare 15 real estates located in Cotabato and Davao cities with a total value of P55 million in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth from 2000 to 2007.
Ampatuan, who died while being tried for his alleged role in the Maguindanao massacre, also failed to declare 25 vehicles paid in cash worth more than P27 million and ownership of 23 firearms worth P3.8 million.
In a joint resolution approved last December, the Ombudsman stated that under Section 2 of Republic Act 1379 (seizure law), “whenever any public officer has acquired during his incumbency an amount of property which is manifestly out of proportion to his salary as a public officer and to his other lawful income and the income from legitimately acquired property, said property shall be presumed prima facie to have been unlawfully acquired.”
The heirs of Ampatuans challenged the Ombudsman findings, claiming that the properties he allegedly owned were either registered in the name of other persons or lacked of evidence to support the claim of ownership.
They stated that the former governor was a very rich man, adding that the firearms “were given by friends, relatives, and political allies through the years without monetary consideration.” (Jun Ramirez)