Press Release
April 5, 2016

GUINGONA TO PHILREM: 'DON'T ADD TO YOUR PROBLEMS BY GIVING FALSE TESTIMONY'

REELECTIONIST Senator Teofisto "TG" Guingona III on Tuesday censured PhilRem for its contradicting statements regarding their delivery of money to casino junket operators Weikang Xu and Kam Sin Wong, a.k.a. Kim Wong during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's probe into the $81-M money laundering scam involving Philippine banks and casinos.

"You have a lot of explaining to do, because hearing after hearing after hearing, you have been saying that you delivered P600 M and $18 M to Weikang Xu in Solaire, and you also said that Wong was present when the money was picked from your house. You have contradicted yourself, I think you shouldn't add to your problems by giving false testimony," Guingona blasted during the panel's 4th public hearing on April 5.

Michael Bautista, treasurer and co-owner of PhilRem, came to the defense of their company and emphasized on their "spotless" dealings for almost 20 years. Bautista also categorically denied that the supposedly missing $17 million is in their possession.

"There is no $17 million with us, we've been answering the question since the beginning and we're ready to take the hits. . . [and] we've already accepted that fact that this transaction is a mistake," Bautista responded to Guingona's reprimand.

According to PhilRem, they transferred P600M and $18 M in six tranches, the first delivered to Solaire with their messengers and the five others were picked up from Bautista's house.

The unconvinced Blue Ribbon Chairman noted excerpts from the transcripts of previous hearings:

(COMMITTEE ON ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND INVESTIGATIONS [BLUE RIBBON]) ADMasicap XII-1 March 15, 2016 3:56 p.m. 1 Page 79

THE CHAIRMAN. You were the one who delivered, Ms. Bautista? MS. BAUTISTA. In the beginning, yes, Your Honor. THE CHAIRMAN. In the end, who was delivering?

(COMMITTEE ON ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND INVESTIGATIONS [BLUE RIBBON]) ADMasicap XII-1 March 15, 2016 3:56 p.m. 2 Page 80

MS. BAUTISTA. It was our delivery men. SEN. OSMEÑA. Pero pinakilala mo na kay Weikang Xu. MS. BAUTISTA. Yes, Your Honor.

(COMMITTEE ON ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND INVESTIGATIONS [BLUE RIBBON]) MPMENDOZA II-2 March 29, 2016 2:03 p.m. 2 Page 124

SEN. RECTO. No, no. I am talking about here in the Senate. In the Senate, you said in the first hearing, you delivered personally and with the staff to a certain Weikang Xu. MS. BAUTISTA. Weikang Xu. It's ?600 million and $18 million. SEN. RECTO. Six hundred million pesos, right? MS. BAUTISTA. And 18 million.

(COMMITTEE ON ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND INVESTIGATIONS [BLUE RIBBON]) HSGayapa VII-2 March 29, 2016 2:53 p.m. 8 Page 170

SEN. AQUINO. And then you refused to provide other information which is that Mr. Kim Wong was present. MS. BAUTISTA. Your Honor, it was not asked before if Mr. Kim Wong was present.

SEN. AQUINO. Okay. So, was Mr. Kim Wong present in all of the deliveries of cash? MS. BAUTISTA. Yes, Your Honor.

SEN. AQUINO. Was one of these done in your house? MS. BAUTISTA. Yes, Your Honor.

According to Guingona, the presence of the "phantom messenger" in the next hearing should shed light on these "disturbing" inconsistencies.

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