Waiver on bank accounts? Tell that to Ombudsman

Showing no signs of panic, two Bohol congressmen—Edgar Chatto and Roberto Cajes, remained cool under fire after a self-styled crusader stepped up his verbal artillery against Bohol lawmakers. Acting like a one man demolition crew, lawyer Victor de la Serna made another vicious tirade, this time, zeroing in on the three congressmen's bank accounts. De la Serna demanded that the three including Cong. Eladio Jala of the third district to open their bank deposits including their wives and children to public scrutiny to prove that they did dip their fingers in the public tills. The bar topnotcher asked the three lawmakers to issue a waiver so that he can peek into their bank accounts without violating the Bank Secrecy Law. Upon receipt of the de la Serna attack which came in the form of a press statement, the Post lost no time in furnishing a copy each of the three Bohol congressmen. Only Chatto and Cajes came up with their respective replies to the de la Serna demand. Jala, despite, two text messages, refused to make any answer. He was also faxed a copy of the de la Serna barbs.

SOLONS' REPLIES

In an interview during the radio program Cuentas Claras hosted by the Post publisher, Chatto showed no signs of irritation given the gravity of the accusation. Soft-spoken as ever, Chatto said the de la Serna tirade did not surprise him. He said that as public officials, they are required by law to file a Statement of Assets and Liabilities every year. In that SAL, Chatto continued, is a waiver for the Ombudsman to look into the bank deposits of public officials. But not just any Tom, Dick and Harry can get any waiver so that they are free to look into an official's bank account. According to Chatto there are rules and procedures laid down by law to protect aggrieved parties involving the actions of public officials. Chatto also said that not just anybody can make use of the waiver process to prevent officials from being harassed by unjust accusations. For his part, Cong. Cajes practically mouthed the same argument on the issue of waivers to poke into the bank accounts public officials. He said the Ombudsman is empowered by law bank to look into these accounts. Cajes appeared familiar with the issue of waivers when he presided over the expulsion case filed by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo against Taguig-Pateros Cong. Allan Peter Cayetano. The accusation was about alleged hidden deposits by the First Gentleman in a German bank. Cayetano made the accusation and Cajes being the chair of the ethics committee handled the expulsion proceedings. Asked if it was possible for anybody to get a copy of Cajes' SAL, the second district solon referred the Post publisher to get one at the provincial capitol or at the House of Representatives.

REJOINDER

In his rejoinder to the Chatto and Cajes' replies on the bank accounts issue, de la Serna said the more “our congressmen tried to reason out their refusal to open their bank accounts, the more pathetic they sound. He said the issue here is very simple. “if they are not hiding any stolen money, why will they not open their bank accounts”, de la Serna asked. He said because they all refuse, there can only be one inescapable conclusion—all of them are crooks and thieves

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