Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — For some senators, Maia Santos-Deguito, branch manager of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) Jupiter Makati can be a state witness in the multi-million dollar money laundering scandal.
Bank officials pinned down Deguito as the facilitator of the laundering of $81 million stolen from the Bangladesh Central Bank in the New York Federal Reserve.
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“Kung may mangyayari man dito, sana makulong siya at sana ma-prosecute siya dahil sa kanyang ginawa,” said Atty. Macel Fernandez-Estavillo, RCBC Legal and Regulatory Affairs Head.
[Translation: If there is something that must happen, she should be behind bars and we hope she would be prosecuted for her deed.]
However, Deguito revealed in an executive session there are two higher RCBC executives who ordered her to do the transaction.
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Senator Sergio Osmeña III believes Deguito is not the most guilty in the scandal, saying that there are higher officials who could be the “prime movers.”
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“Deguito was credible and very helpful. She supplied information that allowed us to make the connection between events, persons, dates, etcetera,” said Osmeña, also the chairman of the Senate Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies.
The rules of court claim an accused can be a state witness if he or she does not appear to be the most guilty in the crime.
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For Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Teofisto Guingona III, it is up to Deguito on whether she will ask authorities to admit her as state witness.
“That’s not an issue because she is not availing of it, that’s her choice. She wants to clear her name, according to her, on her own,” said Guingona.
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For Deguito to be a state witness, her lawyers should file a motion along with necessary evidence and a sworn statement.
If the Justice Department is satisfied, Deguito may be acquitted unless she fails or refuses to testify later on.
Deguito’s lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said they are still deliberating on whether he will enter her client in a witness protection program.
Topacio explained this will depend on the testimony of Kim Wong on the Senate hearing on Tuesday (March 29). Wong is a junket operator and the alleged recipient of the illegal funds.
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