Congressman fears coverup in bank heist; pushes parallel probe

 

Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon is seeking a parallel congressional probe into the mysterious transfer of $81 million from the Bank of Bangladesh bank account in New York and laundered in the Philippines through local casinos to determine whether there is a coverup between government agencies, bank executives and casino operators in pinning the blame on branch-level personnel.

Ridon, in a statement, echoed the concerns raised by Bangladesh Ambassador to the Philippines John Gomes whom he said felt there was a coverup being done by higher authorities.

Bangladeshi Ambassador to the Philippines John Gomes

During the Senate hearing, Gomes reportedly said: "I feel, as an outsider, there was a coverup. You can understand whenever the relevant questions being asked by the senators to the RCBC management, Mr. Lorenzo (Tan) was also there, invoking the bank secrecy act... They could not get anything out of Mr. Lorenzo."

“We are gravely concerned that mere branch-level bank personnel are being publicly slandered by bank executives and supposedly valued clients involved in this controversy,” Ridon said, as he noted that the all involved personalities appeared to lay blame on RCBC Jupiter branch manager Maia Santos-Deguito as the main conduit in the heist.

RCBC branch manager Maia Santos Deguito

Gomes also disputed the allegations that the entire transaction was the handiwork of Ms Deguito herself. Gomes said, “I don't think so. I don't believe a manager of any bank in the world could handle millions of dollars which suddenly appeared in some accounts, which now they say are fictitious accounts... I don't think, anywhere in the world, the CEO or a president of bank would allow a manager to deal with huge amounts."

[Read: Deguito named 2 senior RCBC execs who could be part of bank heist]

Ridon, a lawyer, said despite the flat denial of businessman William Go of his non-ownership of an RCBC account in the center of the money laundering inquiry, Go has not surmounted the presumption that he indeed had given authority for the opening of the subject account and given orders of withdrawal.

The businessman’s denial of ownership falls flat in the face of the allegation of Deguito’s assistant, Angela Torres, that it was Go himself who received the P20 million in his Lexus SUV parked outside the RCBC branch. The P20 million was withdrawn from the supposed account of William Go.

William Go

“It is amusing that Mr. Go, and everyone else are pinning the blame on Ms Deguito when in fact all that she did was follow orders from her executives and her supposed valued clients in these particular transactions.”

Ridon shares the view of the Bangladeshi ambassador that Ms Deguito is not in a position to act as a principal actor in the money laundering operation.

“It is funny that Mr Go and all the other personalities involved are now blaming Ms Deguito for the heist, when in fact it is them, their connections and authority that had made this entire operation possible.”

[Read: Go implicates RCBC officer]

Self-preservation

Ridon also noted that RCBC’s internal investigation should not be given merit as it is “absolutely self-serving.”

“The internal investigation cannot not be taken at face value, as clearly it is being done in the interest of corporate self-preservation. In fact, the investigation has already prejudged itself by absolving completely Lorenzo Tan and several other executives with responsibility for conducting initial clearing of money transfers in the main office.”

[Read: RCBC execs mum why $81M withdrawn despite NY bank alert]

What perjury?

Ridon further said that RCBC’s allegation of perjury against Torres shows clear prejudgment of its supposed internal investigation.

“How can Ms Torres perjure herself when she had not made statements contradicting her affidavit? She had been consistent in her statements the entire time. It is fundamental that there is  no perjury when there is no self-contradiction.”

Lowly bank personnel at the losing end

Ridon lamented that as investigators start pinning down on lowly bank personnel who clearly cannot be presumed to be capable of such a heist, the masterminds remain scot-free and their friends in high places in government and business become blameless as well.

[Read: RCBC bank manager only a scapegoat, lawyer says]

“What has been laundered was not only the funds, but also the criminal liability of the masterminds and their friends in the government, banks and casinos. And also the truth, basically. On the other hand, bank personnel are forced to resign from their jobs with no prospect of future employment because of a scandal not of their choosing.” — APG, GMA News