Dhaka: The Philippines’ Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday summoned the branch manager of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, to answer the criminal complaint filed against her and several others by the country’s Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) in connection with the $81 million stolen by hackers from Bangladesh Bank.

Aside from Maia Santos-Deguito, who in her capacity as branch manager of the Jupiter Street branch of RCBC in Makati City is said to have acted as the ‘gatekeeper’ of the illegal payments into and out of RCBC accounts at the branch, also summoned are ‘Michael Francisco Cruz,’ ‘Jessie Christopher Lagrosas,’ ‘Alfred Santos Vergara,’ and ‘Enrico Teodoro Vasquez.’  

But these names are alleged to be fictitious by the AMLC, created with the specific purpose of laundering the illegal money. Nevertheless, they have been summoned along with Deguito to appear before the DOJ on April 12 and 19.

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

Deguito and the others are facing a case for violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Law. During preliminary hearings this week before a ‘Blue Ribbon Committee’ of the Philippines Senate, Deguito constantly invoked the case against herself and a law relating to Bank Secrecy, to stonewall questions from the senators regarding her handling of the illegal transactions.

‘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.

Till Thursday, she was insistent she could only testify and tell all during a closed door executive session. But Friday’s subpoena changes all that.  

‘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.

AMLC said when Deguito allowed the withdrawals on February 9, 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.