Solon didn’t give importance to ‘small lady’ who gave bank documents

MANILA, Philippines — Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynaldo Umali said that he did not give importance to the “small lady” who gave him the envelope containing the bank documents of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“Madali ako pumansin ng tao pero ito hindi ko talaga binigyan ng importansya kasi akala ko kung ano lang eh,” Umali said in an ambush interview after the trial proceedings Monday.

He said that he could not remember exactly where it was given to him in the Senate building but was sure it was before he had entered his vehicle. He said that he was rushing to another meeting that’s why he did not give much attention to the envelope.

“I have so many documents given to me even by my staff,” Umali said.

“Walang sinabi, basta binigay lang sa akin,” Umali said regarding the anonymous source of the envelope containing “four to five pages” of bank account opening documents, including specimen signature cards, whom he described as a “little lady.”

“I’m sure whoever did it must have known the repercussions, [she knew] there are violations that’s why it was given to me surreptitiously,” Umali said.

“Nung buklatin ko nagulat ako,” Umali said regarding when he opened the envelope. “I gave it to [Lead prosecutor Neil Tupas] because he is the head of the prosecution and told him to study what it was.”