Questioned BDO account with P24M exists, name not De Lima’s ex-staff

Who owns the Banco De Oro account allegedly containing P24-million? Does it really contain such an amount?

The Banco De Oro (BDO) account number earlier reported to be under the name of Jonathan Caranto, former staff of Senator Leila De Lima exists  — only it is not under Caranto’s name.

Caranto, who works as an Administrative Assistant III at the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) National Prosecution Service. on Tuesday personally went to BDO at Grace Park-9th Avenue in Caloocan to verify the existence of the P24-million account under his name.

In his affidavit, he denied having a BDO account. He said his accounts are at Landbank and Philippine National Bank (PNB).

The bank informed him and his counsel Atty. Eirene Jhone E. Aguila that the account number exists, only it was at a different branch and they have no access to it.

Caranto said the bank also told them, after presenting his identification cards, that they have no account under the name of Jonathan Cardinoza Caranto.

“Pumunta ako dito sa Caloocan branch sa BDO to check kung may account na nakapangalan sa akin at nakausap namin with my lawyer, so wala ngang account na nakapangalan sa akin,” he told INQUIRER.net.

(I went to the Caloocan branch in BDO to check if there’s an account in my name and we talked with my lawyer, so there’s really no account named after me.)

“Hindi nya pangalan [yung account number] at hindi sa branch na yan,” Aguila said adding that they went to BDO Grace Park-9th Avenue because that was what the deposit slip says.

(It’s not his name on that account number and it’s not that branch.)

Under BDO Account Number 004460088072, there were six transactions with P4-million deposit each from Nov. 20, 2015, Dec. 14, 2015, Jan. 22, 2016, Jan. 26, 2016, March 18, 2016  and the last transaction was April 29, 2016. Total deposit was P24-million.

Aguila said the bank cannot give other details on the account number because of the Bank Secrecy Law.

Caranto’s name was included in the drug matrix of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Caranto said he was surprised that his name was included in the matrix. He said he only learned about it last August 25 over the radio.

“Nabigla po ako na nakasama ako sa drug matrix. Wala naman po akong kinalaman sa ganyan. Office, bahay lang naman ako,” Caranto said.

(I was surprised I was included in the drug matrix. I have no knowledge of that kind of thing. [Office-to-house] is my only routine.)

In the matrix, he was described as someone who frequents cockpits.

“Hindi po ako marunong magsabong,” he said, adding he does not smoke but he is an occasional drinker.

(I don’t know anything about cockfighting.)

His wife, Eileen, attested he could’nt eat after learning his name was dragged into the controversy surrounding his former boss.

After learning that his name was in the matrix, he said he wanted to talk to Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre.

He said he consulted  a lawyer and friends at the DOJ.

During his talk with Aguirre, he said he was asked about the bank accounts and the deposit slip.

The Justice Secretary also asked him if he was willing to go to the NBI to clear his name to which he readily agreed.

Aside from executing an affidavit, he also underwent a polygraph or a lie detector test which, according to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), he  passed.

“Jonathan Caranto’s polygrams revealed that there were no specific reactions indicative of deception to pertinent questions relevant to instant investigation,” the NBI noted in its Polygraph Report.

He said he is hoping that the truth will come out.

“Sana lumabas na yung katotohanan kung sino nagdawit sa pangalan ko,” Caranto said.

(I hope the truth will come out [on the culprit] who dragged my name into the issue.)

He called on those who dragged his name into the matrix to come out.

“Kung sino yung gumawa, lumabas na. Inosente ang mga tao, nadadamay. Kami, pamilya ko, walang kinalaman pero nasira na ang pangalan ko,” he said but added that he is not in hiding contrary to speculations at the DOJ. He said he only took a leave of absence after his name was included in the matrix to focus on clearing his name.

(Whoever did that, please come out. Innocent people are being dragged [into the issue]. My family and I, we have no knowledge on that but my name is being used.)

For now, he said he leaves it up to God.

“I am afraid for the safety of my family but I leave it up to God. Pray lang po talaga,” he said. TVJ/rga

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