Gordon bares some Chinese nationals open bank accounts using Filipino names

Senator Richard Gordon bared on Monday a scheme allowing some Chinese nationals to open accounts using other person’s names.

During the Blue Ribbon committee hearing, Gordon told the Anti-Money Laundering Council that he received information about banks allegedly cooperating in the illegal activity.

“I am aware of a racket going on right now where Chinese folks are opening bank accounts arranged by agents who have ACR, alien certificate of registration, and the banks are cooperating to open accounts without knowing the customer,” the committee chair said.

Mel Georgie Racela, AMLC executive director, said the council was aware of the scheme and have warned the banks about it.

“We are aware of that and as a matter of fact we already issued an advisory on those activities where account holders are being used and other Filipinos are being used to open bank accounts. It’s more of pahiram ‘yung account,” he said.

When asked, Banco de Oro said they are not aware of the scheme.

“I’m not aware of that practice but as far as I am concerned, we do not allow that, we do not practice  that in our branch,” said Priscilla Denise Tan, BDO Mall of Asia-Shell Residences branch manager.

But Gordon insisted those incidents were happening, adding “we will provide evidence.”

“AMLC should really come in and bear hard on that,” he said, adding that he will conduct a probe on the matter.

He also asked BDO to provide the Senate a copy of their closed circuit television (CCTV) footages.

In an interview after the hearing, Racela said they have conducted an initial investigation on the scheme.

“Na-notice namin na merong ganyan. Nagbigay kami ng advisory na mag-ingat ang mga tao, naka-address mga banko na i-ensure nila na ang mga bank account ay ‘yun ang may ari, ‘wag ‘yung modus na nagpapahiram,” he said.

He said they do not know yet if there was money involved in exchange for letting another use a person’s bank account. —LDF, GMA News