Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he plans to meet with the Financial Action Task Force, the Paris-based global watchdog against money-laundering, when he flies to France to discuss Philippine officials who may be seeking sanctuary and using it to hide their assets.
Remulla also said he would like to meet with the European Union on the same issue and may make a side trip to Brussels where the EU’s headquarters is located, or to The Hague, where its law enforcement agency is based.
He earlier disclosed that he would go to France to ask its authorities not to let the country be a haven for Philippine officials facing charges or for ill-gotten wealth.
“Will they protect white collar criminals and those who got their money from corruption and are storing it within the country? Kasi kung sila ay nagpi-preach na bawal ang money laundering, dapat huwag sila maging money-laundering center. The whole Europe ha,” he said on his regular radio show on DZRH on Saturday.
He noted that former lawmaker Elizaldy Co, who has been tagged in the flood control controversy, and Sen. Loren Legarda, who is under probe in relation to her son’s solar company, are said to be in France.
Remulla said he has reached out to the French ambassador about the meetings he would like to arrange.
He said he and the Anti-Money Laundering Council representative have to meet with the FATF about possible money laundering.
He also said it is important to meet with the EU because the Philippine officials being sought may just leave France and move to another country in the union.
“Dapat kasi ang EU, ang France, hindi sila maging taguan ng pera na kinuha lang sa corruption,” he said.
“We will break the ice and talk to them directly with the information that they may need,” he added.
He alleged that Co has bought an apartment in Paris’ prestigious Avenue Montaigne.
The Ombudsman also said he feels that Legarda does not want to return to the Philippines, which would be a problem, noting that the Philippines has no extradition treaty with France.
Legarda is on extended medical leave and has defended this, saying it was within her rights and she has done nothing wrong.