SENATE PANELS SEEK TO CITE CELSO DE LOS ANGELES IN CONTEMPT
ROXAS HITS LEGACY OWNER FOR NON-SUBMISSION OF SAL, BANK WAIVER

The Senate joint committees on trade and commerce and banks moved today to cite in contempt Legacy owner Celso de los Angeles for his failure to submit a written waiver of the confidentiality of his private bank accounts and his sworn statements of assets and liabilities as he had committed in previous hearings.

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas, chairman of the Senate trade and commerce committee, said his panel had sent at least two letters to De los Angeles' legal counsel to follow-up on the submission of the promised documents.

"Celso de los Angeles in previous hearings under oath committed to submit his statement of asset and liabilities as well as a written waiver of his right to his bank account secrecy. We have followed up with his counsel several times but until now, there is no submission," he said as he resumed hearings into the Legacy fund mess and the financial plight of the pre-need industry.

"I move that the committee consider to cite (De los Angeles) in contempt of the Senate for his non-appearance today and for the non-performance of his under oath representations," he said.

Roxas' motion was seconded by Senator Chiz Escudero, chairman of the Senate banks committee.

De los Angeles, who is also Mayor of Sto. Domingo in Albay, promised to submit an official copy of his Statement of Assets and Liabilities as a public official during the committee hearing last February 20.

On the other hand, senators during the March 9 public hearing have asked De los Angeles to waive all his rights under the Bank Secrecy Act and to allow senators to review his accounts with the Philippine Rural Bank and the Philippine Countryside Bank as well as his closed account at Metrobank-Bicol.

Former chief finance officer Namnama Pasete-Santos had testified during the public hearing that P38 million in Legacy funds were given to De los Angeles supposedly to bankroll his mayoralty bid in Sto. Domingo, Albay during the 2007 general elections; P30 million in 2006; and a total of P22 million in 2008. Ex-Legacy chief executive officer and chairman Carolina Hinola, on the other hand, said P25 million was paid to De los Angeles by Legacy for the purchase of the Punta Engano property in Lapuu City in Cebu.