LandBank cashier charged by NBI

Determined to prove that it had acted correctly, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed charges against Land Bank of the Philippines cashier Acsa Ramirez and her predecessor for violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Law.

NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco said yesterday that Ramirez was charged with 11 counts of violating the Anti-Money Laundering Law, while her predecessor, Ramon Joven, faced six similar charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

NBI investigation showed the two cashiers failed to report to the Anti-Money Laundering Council deposits at the LandBank Binangonan, Rizal branch amounting to P203 million from 1999 to June 2002. The deposits turned out to be part of the tax diversion scam in that LandBank branch.

Wycoco said Joven approved six deposits of over P4 million in three fictitious accounts from 1999 to April 2002. When Ramirez replaced Joven, she received 11 deposits from May to June 2002 for the same fictitious accounts.

Ramirez cried foul after Wycoco and President Arroyo presented her as a suspect in the P203-million tax diversion scam last week. Ramirez claimed she was the whistle-blower who informed the NBI of the scam.

Ramirez said her revelation led to the discovery of the multimillion-peso tax fraud and the arrest and filing of charges against LandBank Binangonan branch manager Artemio San Juan, who faces 17 counts of violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Law.

"We regret that this episode will end up like this," Wycoco said. "We at the NBI don’t enjoy filing charges against anyone and we commiserate with them. We understand the feeling of their families, but we have to do our duty."

The NBI chief said the filing of charges only proves the NBI had basis in investigating Ramirez and laying to rest the kuryente (false information) issue: "The accused will have their day in court to prove their innocence."

According to Wycoco, it appeared that Joven and Ramirez both had knowledge of the shady financial transactions they were involved in, but they failed to report these transactions to the Anti-Money Laundering Council as mandated by the Anti-Money Laundering Law.

The law took effect in October 2001, with the aim of preventing criminal syndicates from laundering money gained through illegal activities, including kidnapping for ransom, bank robbery, illegal drug trafficking, illegal gambling and other criminal activities.

Wycoco said the law carried punishment of a fine of P100,000 to P500,000 or a jail sentence of six months to four years, or both.

When asked if Ramirez could still be considered a witness, Wycoco said: "It’s up to the investigating prosecutor to decide the issue." Wycoco said the accused can only become a witness if he or she is the least guilty among the accused and if his or her statement will help in the immediate prosecution of the mastermind of the crime.

The charges of violating the Anti-Money Laundering Law leveled against Joven, Ramirez and San Juan are separate from the plunder raps that may yet be filed against the accused. Plunder is a capital offense punishable by death.

For her part, Ramirez’s lawyer, Virginia Pinlac, said her client expected the charges after the NBI wrongfully presented her to Mrs. Arroyo as one of the suspects in the P203-million tax diversion scam.

Pinlac said they will answer the charges once they formally receive a copy of the subpoena. According to the lawyer, Ramirez has not been reporting to work since the scandal made headlines last week.