Ampatuans’ assets ‘frozen’

MANILA — The government secured on Friday a preliminary asset preservation order on the multi-billion bank accounts and assets of the Ampatuan clan, whose members are being tried for the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao in 2009.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the preliminary asset preservation order (Papo) has the effect of a freeze order, which means the Ampatuans may not be able to withdraw, transfer or do any other kinds of transactions from said accounts, or touch their assets.
De Lima said the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), through the office of the Solicitor General, filed a civil forfeiture case with prayer for the issuance of a preliminary asset preservation order before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Manila Friday.
The Papo was also issued on the same day it was filed. “So, there’s no oversight,” said de Lima.
The move was made following reports that a member of the Ampatuan clan had attempted to withdraw from one of the accounts covered by the freeze order in Banco de Oro in Cotabato last Thursday.
De Lima also said she immediately sought Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo’s help to deploy police personnel to secure the bank, amid reports of harassment of the bank manager and personnel to regain control of their assets.
She added that she also asked Solicitor General Jose Anselmo Cadiz to advise the bank about the RTC-issued Papo.
De Lima said the government has aggressively acted for the freezing of the assets, which the Ampatuans may have used in committing fraud, such as amassing up to P1 billion in ill-gotten wealth.
Returning said bank accounts, firearms and other resources to the Ampatuans would give them leverage over government prosecutors and the victims’ families in their ongoing trial for the Maguindanao massacre case, said de Lima.
Members of the Ampatuan clan, led by its patriarch former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., were tagged in the November 23, 2009 massacre of 57 individuals, among them members of the rival Mangudadatu clan, their lawyers and supporters, and more than 30 media workers, who accompanied their convoy to a local election office.
Andal Sr.’s son, former Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., was then supposed to take over the province from his third-termer father and run for governor against Esmael Mangudadatu.
Apparently to thwart his election bid, the group waylaid the convoy of the Mangudadatus led by his wife, Bai Genelyn, who was to file his certificate of candidacy on his behalf.
Following the filing of criminal cases against the accused in court, the AMLC applied for a freeze order at the Court of Appeals, which was granted.
Last August, the Court of Appeals extended the freeze order on the 597 bank accounts, 142 firearms, 132 motor vehicles and 113 houses and lots in the names of 27 members of Ampatuan clan and their associates. That freeze order by the appellate court lapsed last Friday.
Earlier, the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists Inc. and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines lamented the delay in the actions of the government as they questioned why the AMLC’s petition for a new freeze order was filed with the court only last December 1, or a day before the freeze order of the Court of Appeals lapsed.
“We view with great alarm the unwarranted delay and apparent lack of attention that the AMLC and the OSG had accorded this case. A week ahead of expiry of the appellate court’s freeze order, we called government attention to this grave matter — the possibility that the Ampatuans could take such delay as a chance to retake control of their enormous unexplained wealth to put pressure to bear on their trial for the Maguindanao massacre of Nov. 23, 2009,” the media watchdogs said. (JCV/Sunnex)
Source : http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/12/04/ampatuans-assets-frozen-194030

Clark Wine Center was built in 2003 by Hong Kong-based Yats International Leisure Philippines to become the largest wine shop in Philippines supplying Asia’s wine lovers with fine vintage wines at attractive prices. Today, this wine shop in Clark Philippines offers over 2000 selections of fine wines from all major wine regions in the world. As a leading wine supplier in Philippines, Pampanga’s Clark Wine Center offers an incomparable breadth of vintages, wines from back vintages spanning over 50 years. Clark Wine Center is located in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone adjacent to Angeles City, just 25 minutes from Subic and 45 minutes from Manila.

Things to do in Clark Philippines and Pampanga: do a little wine shopping at the famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

Residents of Pampanga Angeles City, Subic, Tarlac and Clark Philippines know of this wine shop as one of the best places in Clark, a good night out place and simply the best place to hang out, enjoy some good wine with cheese on the roof deck with good atmosphere, or just relax and unwind with friends and family in a cool place. This wine shop in Clark Pampanga is recognized by many to be one of the best places to buy fine vintage wine in the Philippines. Located near Mimosa Leisure Estate surrounded by golf courses, resorts and a casino, this well known wine shop is frequently visited for its good selection of wine not available in Manila or Subic. Clark Wine Center is open 7 days a week from 10am to 8pm. Private dinners, wine tastings and group gatherings can be organized by advanced reservation.

Foodies and wine lovers travel north from Manila to wine and dine at Philippines’ best fine dining restaurant in Pampanga Clark Freeport worth the 60-minutes drive for a memorable evening of good food with vintage wine at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most guests would stop by this famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center to bring home a few good bottles of fine vintage wine also. Other visitors may find the wine selections in some of the restaurants in Angeles City Pampanga to be less than interesting, so they stop by this wine shop near Angeles City Pampanga Clark Philippines, buy some good wines and bring these bottles of good vintage wines to the restaurants so they can enjoy the dinner.

Wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone, Loire, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Alsace, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa, Chile and Argentina etc. are well represented in this Clark Wine Shop.

This is one of the frequently visited places for wine lovers from Manila and Angeles City to buy international wines in Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com