Philrem execs file counter-affidavit at DOJ

MANILA—The officials of Philrem Service Corporation (Philrem) who were allegedly involved in the USD81-million scam from the Bank of Bangladesh have submitted their counter-affidavit before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Those who filed their counter-affidavit are Philrem president Salud Bautista; her husband Michael “Concon” Bautista, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; and Anthony Pelejo, Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer of Philrem.

The three respondents were charged by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) with a complaint for violation of Republic Act No. 9160, or the “Anti-Money Laundering Act”, for their alleged involvement in the transaction, conversion, transfer, use and receipt of money from illegal activity.

In their joint counter-affidavit, spouses Bautista argued that the allegations filed against them by the AMLC were bereft of truth.

They said that if the complaint-affidavit of the AMLC will be used as basis, the alleged source of money had no actual predicate crime or unlawful activity, which is an important element of money laundering.

They added that the alleged “hacking” or cracking in the system of the Bangladesh Bank did not happen in the Philippines and the same is contrary in the main principle of criminal law in the country that defines the “territoriality,” meaning that, the violation committed should have happened in the Philippines.

They further argued that since the alleged violation happened outside the jurisdiction of the Philippines, the predicate crime as claimed by the AMLC, had no basis.

The spouses Bautista also maintained that they would not compromise the reputation of Philrem in transactions which may lead to criminal prosecution for violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Law.