Senate invites AMLC to next hearing on Makati building

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Aquilino Pimentel III on Thursday, October 2, ordered a subpoena sent to the executive director of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to appear in the next Senate hearing on the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Parking Building II.

The order was prompted by a motion made by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano who reported supposed “heavy withdrawals” of personalities dragged into the string of corruption allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay and his family. (READ: World-class prices for Binay’s parking building)

“I was just reviewing all the information that is falling into our different offices. It is difficult to verify because of the bank secrecy law, but there are heavy withdrawals by certain persons that have been mentioned during the hearing specifically on issue of graft and corruption,” Cayetano said during the start of the hearing on Thursday. 

“May I move that in the next hearing we call the AMLC council to be able to see whether they’ve been monitoring this hearing and whether they’ve been monitoring the bank accounts of the people that have been mentioned only as regard to [instances of]… plunder and graft and corruption,” Cayetano added.

Pimentel, the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee probing the Makati infrastructure, approved Cayetano’s motion.  

The AMLC executive director is Julia Bacay-Abad. The next hearing is scheduled on October 8. 

The AMLC automatically receives reports on all bank transactions that are more than P500,000. It also has the power to investigate suspicious transactions.

The senators also lambasted the excuses of several personalities subpoenad to attend the Senate probe, particularly Gerardo Calimlingan, the director of Meriras Realty and Development Corporation. 

Binay supposedly used Calimlingan as a front to hide his assets. 

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Calimlingan and the other witnesses have to be compelled to attend the Senate hearing. “It’s time to take these things to the next leevel. Of course, without trumpling upon their individual rights. We have to compel them to attend the hearing,” said Trillanes. 

Trillanes also called on the Makati City officials to appear before the Senate. “Talagang hinahamon nila ang Senado. We will exhaust all necessary measures to compel them,” he said.

Cayetano said the Senate may also tap the National Bureau of Investigation to help them compel the personalities to attend the Senate probe. 

Vice President Binay has declared his plan to run for president in 2016. He said the current Senate probe has no basis and is meant to derail his election chances. – Rappler.com