Miriam: Asking questions on dollar accounts from bank violates law

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said Monday that asking any questions on a person’s foreign currency deposits violates the law.

 

Santiago specifically cited Section 8 of Republic Act 6426 or the law on foreign currency deposits,which states that “in no instance shall foreign currency deposits be examined, inquired or looked into by any person, government official, bureau or office” without the consent of the depositor.

 

“The law prohibits any person from asking any question. The prohibition is absolute,” she said during the 20th day of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s trial.

 

Annabelle Tiongson, Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) Katipunan branch manager, revealed Thursday last week that Banal approached her on January 31 to ask for help to authenticate copies of Corona’s supposed bank records.

 

Banal, for his part, said he only wanted to verify the documents, which he said were recovered from his home’s driveway the night before he visited the bank. He added that he did not know where the bank records came from.

 

Lawmaker, lawbreaker

 

During the trial, Santiago also praised Tiongson for immediately reporting to her superiors Banal’s visit to her branch.

 

“You're acting pursuant to the language of the law, unlike a lawmaker who is already a lawbreaker,” Santiago told Tiongson during the trial.

 

“Perhaps some people should read the law more carefully, particularly if they are entrusted to make the law,” the senator-judge added.

 

She likewise said that under the rules of evidence, there is a “disputable presumption” that a person caught in possession of illegally obtained documents is the same person who stole these records.

 

“The law says na kung ikaw ang may hawak niyan, ikaw ang nagnakaw niyan,” said Santiago, a former Regional Trial Court judge.

 

Banal is expected to face the Senate impeachment court anew to explain his side on the matter. — RSJ, GMA News