Gordon eyes probe of bank accounts used in ‘shabu’ smuggling
Sen. Richard Gordon. (File photo by CATHY MIRANDA / INQUIRER.net)
Sen. Richard Gordon, Senate blue ribbon committee chair, wants to investigate an alleged “racket” of bank agents who arrange for Chinese nationals, using Filipino names, to open bank accounts in the Philippines.
“I’m aware of a racket going on now where Chinese folks are opening bank accounts arranged by agents who have ACRs [alien certifcates of registration] and the banks are cooperating to open accounts without knowing their customer,” Gordon said on Monday during a hearing on the massive smuggling shabu into the country.
“I intend to open an inquiry into this. Pinapahirapan niyo lahat ng tao,” he added, addressing a branch manager of Banco de Oro.
[You are burdening everyone.]
The executive director of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), Georgie Racela, confirmed the practice.
“We were informed, Mr. Chair, and as a matter of fact, we already issued an advisory on those activities where account holders are being used and other Filipinos are being used to open accounts,” Racela said.
“It’s more of a ‘pahiram yung account,’ Mr. Chair,” he added.
[It’s more of a “let me borrow your account” setup.]
For her part, the branch manager of BDO Mall of Asia Shell Residences, Priscilla Tan, said: “I’m not aware of that practice, but as far as I’m concerned we do not allow that. We do not practice that in our branch.”
Gordon said that there would be no pardon for banks and bank agents found guilty of such practice.
“Pag nahuli yung mga kasama ng [Chinese nationals] na nagpapasok ng mga pangalan nila sa bangko o nagpapasok ng pangalan sa Securities and Exchange Commission o sa Bureau of Immigration, dapat walang patawad yan,” he said in an interview.
[If the accomplices of the Chinese nationals entering their names in bank or in the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Bureau of Immigration, they should not be pardoned.]
“Droga pinag-uusapan eh. Bilyon eh, bilyon bilyon [na pera] eh,” he added.
[We’re talking about drugs here — billions of pesos worth of drugs.] /atm
