Confidentiality assured

THE Cebu Bankers Club (CBC) is guaranteeing the public of fund confidentiality, following the duel between Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on bank records.

“The CBC would like to assure the banking public that their funds are kept with utmost confidentiality. We know our responsibilities towards them and their money, and (our) liabilities in case of violation of the Secrecy of Bank Deposits under R.A. 1405,” said bankers’ group president Maximo Rey Eleccion.

Last Thursday, Trillanes, who is running for a vice presidential seat, dared presidential aspirant Duterte to sign a bank waiver to prove that he has no hidden wealth amounting to P211 million deposited at the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI).

The Davao City mayor, however, said he will not give in to Trillanes’ challenge. Instead, he challenged the senator to issue an affidavit stating where and when he got the information and for what purpose.

Trillanes’ disclosure further led to questions on possible violations of the bank secrecy law.

Eleccion, who serves as a relationship manager in BPI Cebu Capitol branch, refused to comment further on the issue.

“We do not want to comment further. We are in the home stretch of the campaign. Many will still come out. Let us have independent judgement based on facts on the issues that would come out,” the banker told Sun.Star Cebu in a text message.

In the Philippines, it is unlawful for any official or employee of a banking institution to disclose to any person any information concerning bank deposits, except upon written permission of the depositor, or in cases of impeachment, or upon order of a competent court.

Trillanes also challenged Duterte to meet him at the BPI Julia Vargas Ave. branch in Pasig City on May 2, Monday, at 11 a.m. to sign the waiver. Duterte refused.

The BPI account Trillanes is referring to is not declared in Duterte’s statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN), an impeachable offense if he is elected president. If the allegations prove to be false, Trillanes said he will resign from the Senate.

The independent vice presidential bet, however, refuses to sign an affidavit, saying he has to protect his informants.

CBC earlier assured the banking community of the safety of their personal records this week in light of the Commissions on Elections (Comelec) database leakage.

The 52-year old bankers’ organization has 38 member banks which include top banks BPI, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company (Metrobank), and BDO Unibank.

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