THE United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) has expressed its concern over the prolonged detention of its personnel whom it said were on a routine trip to Cebu City to transport over P30 million of excess cash.
The bank said it was also concerned over reports that the Philippine Coast Guard, whose personnel detained the four after failing to show proper documents, was planning to file charges in court.
UCPB spokesperson Jessmar Gasas, however, said that the bank acknowledges the good treatment that is being given to their personnel even though the authorities are taking too long to resolve the problem.
The bank official said the cash has been put under the custody of the fiscal until UCPB has finished meeting with the Central Bank of the Philippines about the matter.
"Yung cash, napatunayan naman na totoo however nasa custody pa ng piskal sa ngayon. Sila muna ang hahawak hanggang sa maayos na ito. (The cash was proven real however these are under the custody of the fiscal as of now. They will hold it until this will be resolved)," Gasas said.
The Bank personnel, composed of two branch employees and escorted by two non-uniformed security personnel, were in transit to Cebu on Sunday, June 25, to transfer cash from UCPB Velez Branch to its Cebu Cash Center. The group was provided adequate security, having been transported by an armored vehicle to the Macabalan port while another armored vehicle was scheduled to pick them up at the Cebu port.
The PCG detained them pending its investigation into the source and the purpose of the cash transfer.
UCPB has clarified with port authorities that the cash transfer is a normal bank procedure which does not require prior approval of the Central Bank. UCPB has already provided PCG the pertinent documents to justify the possession and the transfer of the cash.