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Senate holds executive session on $81-M banking heist

March 17, 2016 | 2:52am

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee voted to hold an executive session on Thursday to hear Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) bank manager Maia Santos-Deguito’s side regarding her involvement in the $81-million money laundering scandal.

The voting was made after Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile questioned Deguito’s request for an executive session and moved to hold the witness for contempt. Aside from Enrile, the senators present were Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, Sens. Bam Aquino, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Alan Peter Cayetano, Sonny Angara, Bam Aquino, Ralph Recto, Sergio Osmeña III and Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.

“I’m making a motion to hold this witness in this contempt,” Enrile said after arguing with Deguito, who maintained that she is invoking her right against self incrimination.

“We have to force this witness to answer this charge, ang purpose here is to let her tell the truth,” the senator added.

The senator added that Deguito’s request for an executive session is questionable as she is the root of the scandal.

“Nanumpa ka na sasabihin mo ang katotohanan sa pagsusuring ito. Patas patas lang dito. Ikaw ang pinanggalingan ng gulong ito,” Enrile said.

“Natatakot ka ba? Tinatakot ka ba? Mayroon bang makakasuhan sa banking system natin? Hindi pwedeng executive session, sino ka?” he added.

De Guito repeatedly said she is just invoking her right against self incrimination since she is the only respondent facing a criminal case. She vowed to give a tell-all during the executive session.

However, Enrile was also persistent in saying that the truth is needed to be told to the public as it is one of the biggest heist in history.

The exchange prompted Guingona to ask members of the chamber to decide on holding an executive session to which only Enrile and Sotto opposed.

Cayetano said although he agreed that the case’s information must be disclosed publicly, he also fears that the financial security system will be endangered. Enrile countered it ,insisting that the heist is a form of threat to the national security.

“My opinion is that if it concerns the banking system, (disclosing information) has to come after we listened to her and not before,” Cayetano said, adding that it will cause a precedent if RCBC will be allowed to join the executive session.

Despite opposition, the Senate panel decided to hold an executive session and voted on which representatives are required to be present in the meeting.

RCBC head of the legal and regulatory affairs Maria Cecilia “Macel” Fernandez-Estavillo and Anti-Money Laundering Council Executive Director Julia Bacay Abad requested to be present during the executive session to hear Deguito’s testimony but were denied by the senators. Instead, they will be called after the testimony for questioning.

Guingona said Bangladesh Ambassador John Gomes’s request to observe Deguito’s testimony was permitted since Bangladesh is not seen to take sides.

“We will go to an executive session. Ms. Deguito and your counsel, his excellency, the Bangladesh Ambassador, you are invited,” Guingona concluded.

Deguito, alleged facilitator of the transfer of millions to several accounts in her branch consistently said she will provide a tell-all in the executive session to shed light in the $81-million money laundering in the Philippines allegedly from the $100 million robbed from the US account of the central bank of Bangladesh.