PNoy says he will not sign waiver to open bank accounts

President Benigno Aquino III on Friday said he will not sign a waiver to open his bank accounts, contrary to his promise during the 2010 presidential elections.

 

He maintained that all of his assets have been open to public scrutiny since he entered politics.

 

In an interview with reporters after attending the 1st International River Summit in Iloilo City, Aquino said he already authorized the Ombudsman, through a provision in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, to open his bank accounts.

 

“On the (SALN) form, before you affix your signature, there is a provision that says pwedeng buksan ng Ombudsman at anytime,” he said.

 

“Ginawa ko na (pirmahan ang SALN). Gagawa ko ulit? Drama na lang ‘yon, okay,” he added.

 

He further said that his SALN has been deposited at the Office of the Ombudsman and can be accessed there as a “matter of the public record.”

 

“Punta ka sa Ombudsman, nandoon sa SALN nakapirma. And I have been signing it consistently. I’ve been filing it,” he said.

 

Malacañang earlier said that the President has no foreign currency deposit account.

 

At a presidential forum held at the Integrity and Human Rights Conference in February 2010, then Liberal Party presidential bet Aquino said he was willing to open his bank accounts “if there is a question about my integrity.”

 

On Friday, Aquino expressed apprehension on making public his bank account number saying it would allow unscrupulous individuals to access his account without his consent.

 

“’Pag nagwi-withdraw ka, mahigpit. ‘Pag nagde-deposit, hindi kasing higpit. Sa araw-araw na ginawa ng Diyos, ‘pag nilagay ko ‘yung aking account number, may nag-deposito diyan, magpapaliwanag pa ako na hindi ko alam pumasok,” he said.

 

“So sasarado ko ‘yung account na ‘yon para maprotektahan ang sarili ko. Magbubukas ng panibago, tatanungin na naman niyo ‘yung bagong numero. Babalik na naman tayo sa sitwasyon na ilalagay ko sa baul sa bahay kung ano man ang ari-arian ko,” he explained.

 

On the other hand, Aquino welcomed the decision of Supreme Court justices to disclose their 2011 SALN. 

 

"That’s good and that’s exactly consistent with what the Constitution in Article 11, Section 17—if I’m not mistaken—dictates that starting from me winding up with flag officers should make their SALNs public," he said.

 

Senator Francis Escudero, in his statement explaining his guilty verdict against impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona, said government officials should open their bank accounts to public scrutiny.

 

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano also said Cabinet members should sign waivers. –KG, GMA News