William Go eyeing civil case against RCBC

Businessman William So Go is planning to sue Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. for damages, his lawyer said in a television interview on Thursday.

Go has insisted that he had no hand in the opening of fake bank accounts at RCBC's branch on Jupiter Street.

These accounts, which were opened by dismissed branch manager Maia Santos-Deguito, in February held millions of dollars stolen from Bangladesh's bank accounts in New York.

"There is basis to say that there was negligence on the part of RCBC in the selection of their branch manager and officers, in this case, Mrs. Deguito, and on the basis of what we call vicarious liability," Attorney Ramon Esguerra said.

Vicarious liability refers to the accountability of bank officials for the wrongdoings of their employees.

RCBC officials have denied any involvement in the alleged money laundering scheme. The bank has since dismissed Deguito and another bank officer Angela Torres for their alleged role in the laundering.

Go said the scandal has taken its toll on his businesses.

The Filipino-Chinese businessman is the sole proprietor of brokerage Centurytex Trading which services the importation of international garment labels such as Guess, Vans, Mango, Terranova, and American ice cream parlor chain Cold Stone Creamery.

"Naka-freeze ang account ko so may mga dumadating kaming shipment sa importation, may bagong rules na ang duties and charges bank-to-bank walang human intervention, eh freeze ang account ko paano mababayaran 'yan?" Go said.

"Patay talaga ako, 'yung mga charges sa customs, matetengga lahat yan ang laki ng charges, lugi na wala pang negosyo," he added.

Asked how he would pay his employees when he had no access to his funds, Go said he was relying on friends and clients, who made advance payments.

"I have to pay them (employees) also kasi hindi ko pwedeng sibakin, ayokong sibakin because of me," Go said.  

Go asked the Court of Appeals early this month to lift the freeze order issued against his personal and company bank accounts with East West and Banco de Oro to allow him to fulfill his business obligations.

Go has placed the blame squarely on Deguito for creating the fictitious accounts under his name to supposedly store the stolen money.

The illicit funds were later on laundered in casinos.

"I don’t know about these things in the first place, I don’t know how they did it. I can’t say anong nangyari dyan. I was just used talaga," Go said.

Go already filed falsification complaints against Deguito and her deputy, Angela Torres, for allegedly forging his signatures in documents used in opening fictitious accounts and withdrawing P20 million on February 5. —Virgil Lopez/NB, GMA News