Bank execs' testimony sought in 199 graft raps vs ex-Navy men

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman wants officials of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) to testify against retired Navy officers facing 199 graft and malversation charges.

In separate motions, Prosecution Bureau III acting director Manuel Soriano Jr. and Assistant Special Prosecutors Reza Casila-Derayunan and Arieta Say have asked the Sandiganbayan to subpoena the bank executives as witnesses.

The bank officials will be asked to bring documents pertaining to Land Bank account number 0205-90056-6 and Prudential Bank account number 36129, including certified copies of the authority to open account and specimen signature cards.

BPI acquired 91.5 percent of Prudential Bank in 2005.

Soriano said they are seeking to verify if the LBP account belongs to the Philippine Navy and to identify the owner of the Prudential Bank account originally opened in the Cavite City branch.

The prosecution is tracing 21 LBP checks issued by the National Treasury for a total of P18.11 million, which were supposedly deposited in Prudential Bank.

Records from the Commission on Audit show that retired Vice Adm. Mariano Dumancas Jr. and former Navy Capt. Walter Briones were signatories in the transaction.

The charges against the defendants involve irregularities in the purchase of medicines and medical supplies by the Philippine Navy without the conduct of public biddings and without proof of actual delivery.

The checks, with amounts ranging from P512,835 to P985,124 were supposedly paid to Intercon Trading and Midtown Enterprises and General Merchandise.

The next hearing has been set on Oct. 20 at 1:30 p.m.