RCBC branch head shows up at Senate probe on money-laundering

Maia Santos-Deguito, the branch manager of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC), faced the Senate on Tuesday as it began its investigation on the the money-laundering controversy.

Deguito is the manager of the RCBC branch on Jupiter Street, Makati City where the $81 million funds allegedly stolen from the Bangladesh Bank (BB) were transmitted and withdrawn by five bank account holders.

The five bank account holders—Michael Francisco Cruz, Jessie Christopher Lagrosas, Alfred Santos Vergara, Enrico Teodoro Vasquez, and businessman William So Go, were also invited as resource persons in the hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee.

READ: LIVESTREAM: Senate hearing on $81-M money laundering scheme

However, committee chair Senator Teofisto Guingona III said Cruz, Lagrosas, Vergara and Vasquez could not be located in their given addresses.

Also invited as resource persons were RCBC president Lorenzo Tan, officials of Philippine National Bank (PNB), East West Bank, and Banco de Oro (BDO), Anti Money Laundering Council and casino operators allegedly involved in the said controversy.

READ: Key personalities invited in Senate probe on money laundering

Cristino Naguiat, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, was also in the guest list. RAM