Banco Carmona's head accountant to face criminal charges – PDIC

The Office of the City Prosecutor of Makati City recommended the filing of criminal charges against Rowena C. Rodis, the former head accountant of the shuttered Banco Carmona for refusing to turn over bank records, the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) said Monday.

 

The complaint was filed by the PDIC, the liquidator of the closed bank.

 

 Under Republic Act 3591, as amended or the PDIC Charter, refusal to turn over bank records is punishable with prision mayor (imprisonment of 6 to 12 years) or a fine of not less than P50,000 but not more than P2 million, or both, the state-run PDIC said.

 

 In resolving to indict Rodis, the prosecutor pointed out that the head accountant was accountable as the officer who has control over bank records and documents including the missing bank records. 

 

"As the  accountable officer, she certified to the completeness of the bank’s records and documents, some of which were later discovered by PDIC to be missing," the deposits insurer said.

 

Under PDIC Regulatory Issuance 2006-01 on Record Keeping of Bank Deposits, banks are required to maintain an operations manual that contains procedures and guidelines covering the recording of deposits and depositor information as well as safekeeping of deposit-related documents. 

 

Banco Carmona’s operations and internal control manual indicated that such records and documents are to be kept intact inside the bank premises, the PDIC said.

 

Bank records are critical for PDIC to settle the deposit insurance claims of depositors. Under the law, PDIC only pays depositors on record. The claims settlement involving the closed Banco Carmona were considerably delayed due to the missing bank records, the deposits insurer said.

 

Banco Carmona is a two-unit rural bank ordered closed by the Monetary Board and placed under PDIC receivership on August 1, 2014. Its Head Office is at J.M. Loyola St., Carmona, Cavite and its lone branch is located in PTC, Carmona, Cavite. 

 

Based on the general information sheet submitted by Banco Carmona to the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 12, 2014, the bank is headed by Perseveranda Isla (president and director) with the following as officers: Rosalinda Gatdula (secretary and director), Norma Mendoza (compliance officer), Irene Zarraga (officer-in-charge), Gilbert de Silva (loan officer) and Rowena Rodis (finance officer and treasurer). 

 

The bank is owned by Arturo Poblete (14.96 percent), Rowena Rodis (10.66 percent), Perseveranda Isla (10.08 percent), Ma. Cristina Creencia (9.16 percent), Rosalinda Gatdula (8.04 percent), Salome Landas (7.22 percent), Olivia Asia (6.47 percent), Cristobal Umale (5.85 percent), Elena Levardo (5.70 percent), Irene Zarraga (4.89 percent), Maria Alona Poblete (4.39 percent), Evelyn Encarnacion (2.92 percent),  Vilma Encarnacion (2.92 percent), Ressureccion Teano (2.48 percent), Gloria/Cesar Casal (1.85 percent), Arnell Ilas (1.13 percent), Roel Naupal (0.96 percent) and Rosalie Lourdes Gaco (0.32 percent). 

 

Suing the respondents is in line with government's efforts to bring to justice parties that engage in acts that place depositors and the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) at risk, the PDIC said.

 

PDIC vigorously pursues legal action against erring bank owners, officers and personnel for the benefit of depositors and creditors and to protect the DIF as the PDIC’s funding source for settling insured deposits. – VS, GMA News