BSP examiner in graft case airs side

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) examiner who was charged by the Office of the Ombudsman with a criminal case for violation of Section 3 (e) of R.A. 3019, as amended, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Practices Act, recently filed a motion for reconsideration in which he named the recommending officers of the report penalizing Rural Bank of San Miguel Inc.

The basic complaint was filed by Hilario P. Soriano, RBSM president. In his complaint, Soriano averred that BSP examiner Herminio Principio, recommended the imposition of a P2.538-million penalty on RBSM. The recommendation was based on a mere allegation of cash shortage without an actual cash count. This was in connection with the BSP’s reserve requirement.

Moving for a reconsideration of the said resolution, Principio among others, alleged, that he "did not specifically recommend in his examination report that RBSM be penalized." Rather, he said, the recommendation was contained in the Report of Examination "not signed by (him), but by Acting Deputy Director Conrado D. Sta. Ana for Director Wilfredo T. Domo-ong, managing Director Ricardo P. Lirio, and Deputy Governor Alberto V. Reyes."

He claimed that it is, therefore, an error to rule that it was he who recommended the imposition of the P2.538 million penalty on RBSM.