BPI 'no comment' on Duterte account following faceoff involving Trillanes

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) refused to comment on Monday's faceoff between the camp of presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and vice presidential candidate Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday at its Julia Vargas Ave. branch.

"Bank of the Philippine Islands will not make any comment as regards this morning’s discussion involving prominent politicians at our Julia Vargas, Pasig City branch. To do so would be against the basic banking principle of client confidentiality," the Ayala-led lender said

The bank assured its clients that it is committed to protecting their confidentiality.

"BPI is committed to protecting client information and preserving the trust bestowed on us by our clients all these years," the lender said in an emailed statement.

This comes hours after both camps went to the BPI Julia Vargas branch in Ortigas to open the bank account of Duterte, supposedly with P211-million deposits. However, no bank account was opened.

According to Trillanes, he already presented an affidavit that was requested by Duterte before he would agree to sign a waiver to allow his bank account to be opened to the public. 

"Wala silang ipinakita. Sinabi ko ito na ang aking affidavit. Sabi nila na pipirma sila ng waiver, wala silang dala... Talagang wala silang intensyon na pabuksan ito," Trillanes said in an interview of GMA News TV's Balitanghali.

Duterte's lawyer Salvador Panelo, however, said that they have already asked the said BPI branch to disclose the amount in the presidential candidate's account.

"I went to the bank and I had them receive the special power of attorney of Mayor Duterte authorizing me to look into the records of his bank account and to ask the bank for a certification that at no time since the opening of the account has there been P211 million whether singly, collectively, or cumulatively deposited to his name. 'Yun ang hiningi ko sa bangko," he said.

BPI also earlier denied allegations of a breach of client confidentiality.  —JST, GMA News