BB fund heist: RCBC manager, 4 others summoned by DOJ

Philippine justice department on Friday summoned the branch manager of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) to answer the criminal complaint filed against her and several others by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) in connection with the $81 million stolen by hackers from the Bangladesh Bank (BB).

Aside from Maia Santos-Deguito, also summoned are “Michael Francisco Cruz,” “Jessie Christopher Lagrosas,” “Alfred Santos Vergara,” and “Enrico Teodoro Vasquez.” Cruz, Lagrosas, Vergara and Vasquez are allegedly fictitious names according to the AMLC.

Deguito and the others are required to appear before the The Department of Justice (DOJ) on April 12 and 19.

“Under and by virtue of the authority vested in me by law, you are hereby directed to submit your counter-affidavits and other supporting documents or affidavits of your witnesses, if any to be sworn to before me on April 12 and 19, 2016,” the subpoena released Friday stated.

Assistant State Prosecutor Gilmarie Fe Pacamara warned that failure to comply with the subpoena shall be considered a waiver of their right to present their defense and the case will be submitted for resolution based on the evidence submitted by the complainant.

Deguito and the others are facing a case for violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Law.

Based on the complaint filed by the AMLC Compliance and Investigation Group, Deguito approved the opening of the bank accounts of the four “John Does,” which, upon investigation, the documents presented to the RCBC Jupiter branch turned out to be fictitious.

“Not only did respondent Deguito failed to verify the identities of the respondents within nine months from the time the accounts were opened, she even allowed respondent John Does to withdraw money stolen from Bangladesh Bank,” the complaint stated.

AMLC said when Deguito allowed the withdrawals, she already knew that the money was stolen from the BB because there was already a request for RCBC to stop the payment.

“Despite that, respondent allowed and facilitated the withdrawal transaction of respondent John Doe,” AMLC said

*Copyright: Philippine Daily Inquirer/ Asia News Network.