P481 million deposited in Velarde account in three months — Witness

More than P481 million was deposited in the controversial Jose Velarde account allegedly owned by former President Joseph Estrada in just three months from Oct. 19, 1999 to Jan. 24, 2000, a witness in the Estrada plunder trial said.

Antonio Martinez Fortuno, operations officer of the Equitable PCI Bank Pacific Star branch in Makati City and also the 52nd witness to testify in court, said that the Velarde account maintained at the Juan Luna branch of the Equitable PCI Bank in Binondo received a total of P481,325,055.65 during the period through inter-branch deposits.

Fortuno disclosed that in three months’ time, ten deposit transactions were made to Savings Account number 0160-62501-5, known as the Velarde account.

The deposits, according to Fortuno, were facilitated with former Equitable PCI Bank Pacific Star branch senior branch manager Beatrice Bagsit acting as conduit.

Of the total amount deposited, he said, P168.898 million were cash deposits made on Dec. 15, 1999 and on Jan. 19, 2000, while17 managers/cashiers checks amounting to P311.325 million were deposited on Oct. 19, Nov. 3, and Dec. 17, 1999; and on Jan. 11 and 24, 2000.

Senior State Prosecutor Alex Padilla, who conducted the direct examination on Fortuno, said that the prosecution panel is presently conducting an investigation to determine whether to include Bagsit in the second batch of accused in the next plunder case, which they would file at the Sandiganbayan.

Meanwhile, Deputy Special Prosecutor Robert Kallos said that the prosecution panel is also investigating the possible culpability of Willy Ng Ocier, an official of the Belle Corp. who signed as a witness on the sale of the property of former President Estrada’s friend and co-accused Jaime Dichaves in Tagaytay City.

Dichaves’ property was among those ordered frozen by the Sandiganbayan in connection with the Estrada plunder case.