City calls BSP and bank depositors to a forum

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has invited the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Regional Office to shed light on the sudden closure of Banco Filipino without notifying the bank’s clients.

Last week, the bank’s clients expressed their dismay on the bank’s failure to notify them of the closure.

“It is therefore of utmost interest to this Office and all Cebuanos that your office will shed light on this ongoing controversy,” said Rama’s consultant, lawyer Janeses Ponce, in her letter addressed to BSP Regional Director Maria Lux Berciles.

In a letter dated March 17, Ponce asked Berciles to appear in a forum that will be hosted by the City tomorrow, which will be participated in by Banco Filipino depositors and account holders and some city officials.

Ponce said that many of Cebuanos and Banco Filipino account holders have fielded serious questions and concerns to the Office of the Mayor, which cannot give any answer.

“We have no answers to give. We are as much in the dark about this case as everyone else,” said Ponce, in a statement.

      Rama tasked Ponce and lawyer Manuel Legaspi, who is also a consultant, to investigate the bank’s closure and help residents who have deposits in Banco Filipino.

All the branches of the Banco Filipino in Cebu and Dumaguete City were closed, to the surprise of the bank depositors.

Bank clients trooped to the Banco Filipino branches along Juan Luna Avenue and General Maxilom Avenue, and at A.C. Cortes in Mandaue City to withdraw their money but only security guards faced them.

The security guards also expressed their surprise because there was no indication that the banks would be closed.   (FREEMAN NEWS)