'Alabang Boys' probe: Prosecutor's wife asked to shed light on P800,000 deposit

MANILA, Philippines – State prosecutor John Resado’s wife and sister-in-law were summoned Thursday to shed light on the P800,000 he deposited to his account on the day he pushed for dismissal of the drug case against the so-called "Alabang Boys." The House Committee on Dangerous Drugs on Thursday asked Rowena Resado and Elena Martin Sumaway to show up on Feb. 5 at 9:30 a.m. when the panel resumes its hearing on the scandal, Rowena Salvacion reported over radio dzBB. The panel expects Mrs. Resado and Sumaway to answer questions in connection with the deposit made by the state prosecutor on Dec. 2, 2008 – the same day Resado penned the controversial resolution recommending dismissal of the drug case against Richard Brodett, Joseph Tecson, and Jorge Joseph. Resado admitted making the deposit, saying the amount was from his family’s various investments, but an anonymous letter sent to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier alleged it was a bribe in exchange for the junking of the case. During the hearing on Thursday, the House panel also said it would recommend the filing of tax charges against the embattled state prosecutor. Cebu City Rep. Antonio Cuenco, the committee vice chairman, moved to ask the Ombudsman to charge Resado for failure to declare his income tax and nonregistration of the lending business which he had invested in. The motion was adopted with no objections from panel members. Cuenco made the motion following Resado's statement that he did not bother to verify whether the lending business was registered because it was his sister-in-law who handled his investments. In earlier hearings, Resado admitted that he might not have declared all of his income from the lending business because it was part of the informal economy. During Thursday’s hearing, Resado refused to answer questions on his businesses, invoking his right against self-incrimination. He also said he was bound by the "sub judice" rule because of a pending disbarment case against him in the Supreme Court. Sophia M. Dedace, GMANews.TV