Panama Papers database include PHL politicians, businessmen

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) early Tuesday published its searchable database that encompass offshore accounts of public figures from all over the world, including the Philippines, that were exposed and culled from the Panama Papers.

According to the official website, the database which consists of a portion of the 11.5 million documents leaked from the Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca, reveals that some 49 offshore entities all over the world have been linked to 883 officers, 78 intermediaries, and 638 addresses in the Philippines.

The data was published online at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 a.m. Philippine time).

Among the names from the Philippines were:

• Former Senator Edgardo J. Angara, his wife Gloria M. Angara, and their son, Juan Edgardo "Sonny" M. Angara as shareholders of Arkwright Assets Limited registered in the British Virgin Islands

• Business tycoon Andrew L. Tan as a beneficiary of Dew Dreams International Ltd. of the British Virgin Islands

• Irene Marcos-Araneta and her husband, Gregorio Ma. Araneta III, as shareholders of Orient Wind Development Limited of the British Virgin Islands

• Former Senator Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal as a shareholder of Vines Global Limited of the British Virgin Islands

• SM Prime Holdings Chairman and SM Investments Corp. Vice Chairman Henry T. Sy Jr. as a shareholder of Success House International Limited

"The data covers nearly 40 years up to the end of 2015 and links to people and companies in more than 200 countries and territories," the ICIJ noted on its website.

The ICIJ issued a caveat, however, that "there are legitimate uses for offshore companies and trusts."

"We do not intend to suggest or imply that... persons, companies or other entities included in the ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database have broken the law or otherwise acted improperly. Many people and entities have the same name of similar names," it added.

The ICIJ released Initial data last month, prompting several countries to launch tax evasion probes. – Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS, GMA News