Senate to summon Philrem’s messenger, a no- show in 2 hearings

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Tuesday issued a subpoena against the messenger of the Philippine Remittance Co. (Philrem) -- allegedly a witness to all the deliveries of money to the company’s beneficiaries -- after being a no-show in the past two hearings on the $81-million banking heist.

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona and Sen. Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV said it is about time to summon Philrem’s supposed witness, Mark Palmares, who was allegedly sick for the last two hearings with one week interval.

“I would recommend to the committee if maybe it's time to compel him [Mark Palmares] to come in the next hearing,” Aquino suggested.

Guingona slammed Philrem president Salud Bautista for committing to bring Palmares but failing to do so. He also expressed suspicion on her excuse that Palmares called in sick.

Last week, he described the excuse as “lumang tugtugin.” 

“Alam mo, feeling ko niloloko niyo kami e, to put it bluntly,” Guingona said.

“I did not issue subpoena to your messenger because you made a commitment to produce him at this hearing.  In the last hearing, he was sick not feeling well and then you committed to bring him here today. Now he's not feeling well again,” he said.

The committee chair questioned the credibility of Salud’s testimonies and warned her of sanctions if found guilty that she is hiding something.

“Frankly, I feel you’re hiding something and your credibility is very very low so I am warning you, I am warning the both of you (Salud and Philrem treasurer Michael “Concon” Bautista) and we will be issuing the necessary compelling orders,” Guingona said.

Despite Palmeras’s absence, Salud submitted the messenger’s affidavit to the Senate panel, signed by lawyer Renato de Jesus. The Senate then invited de Jesus to the next hearing.

Also absent in the fifth hearing of the alleged money laundering of funds from the Bangladesh Central Bank is Salud’s husband and Philrem treasurer Michael. Salud was late in the hearing saying she had to attend to her husband who is in the hospital due to severe stomach pain.

Other witness invited

Meanwhile, during the hearing, Sen. Sergio Osmeña III also invited Philrem’s accountant to explain the tax of the remittance company as well as other transactions. Salud, who said she does not know the name of the accountant and will check in the office the accountant’s identity, feared  that the summoned witness might not be able to attend, saying she can only “hope so.”

“I might lose my accountant already… They might not now want to come with me, what do you think? Because they’ll be scared,” Salud explained.

Earlier in the hearing, Salud said that she has 50 employees and has 18 years in the business.

Osmeña clarified that only the messenger who failed to turn up twice was served a subpoena while the accountant and the laywer were only invited unless they would “rather be arrested.” He said Salud could pick any accountant and stressed that all they need is an explanation on taxation, among others.

He also explained that the absence of any witness costs a lot as every hearing requires much time and more people involved.

“We don’t like to arrest people and put them in jail but you know, the time that we wait is precious and we have a full staff here recording, etcetera. So it’s very expensive to say ‘well the witness wouldn’t turn up so we’ll have to hold another hearing.’ That’s very very expensive for the Filipino people but of course, this is an issue which has put the country in a very bad light,” Osmeña said.

“We saw it coming and we want to make sure that we will be able to explain to our people why this is happening,” he added.

Osmeña noted that the hearing on the money laundering case is being done as they will amend four laws which include the Anti-Money Laundering law, Bank Secrecy Act, the Foreign Currency Deposit Unit Act and the General Banking Act. He said the Senate is seeking the support of the public as they make corrections on the laws.

“At least malalaman po nila na may ginagawa naman si Sen. Guingona para ma-cure ‘yung mga depekto sa ating mga batas,” he said.

All the witnesses were summoned to shed light on the inconsistencies between the statements of Philrem and businessman Kim Wong’s regarding the delivery of the money. The Senate hearing will resume on Tuesday.

RELATED: Senators: Statements of Kim Wong, Philrem exec are inconsistent