German bank execs ready to meet with House panel over FG account

Officials of the German bank where opposition Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano claims First Gentleman Mike Arroyo maintains a secret account, have agreed to meet the five-man House delegation that is flying to Munich to verify the existence of the alleged account.

Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Antonio Cerilles said the House panel had already set a meeting with senior officials of HypoVereins Bank in Munich to verify the claims of Cayetano.

"The House delegation’s meeting with officials of the bank would allow lawmakers to get the truth straight from the horse’s mouth. There should be no delay in the departure and probe of the five-member delegation," he said in a statement.

Cerilles called on the House opposition bloc, led by Minority Leader Francis Escudero, to immediately designate replacements for Reps. Etta Rosales and Roilo Golez, who both refused to join the Munich mission.

The five-man team is headed by Bohol Rep. Roberto Cajes, chairman of the House ethics committee, and will be joined by two representatives each from the administration and opposition camps.

"We should proceed as planned so we can finally put an end to this issue. It is also the duty of opposition members to help seek the truth in the allegations raised by Cayetano, who is one of their own," Cerilles, who is also deputy majority leader, said.

"Actually, if they had any confidence in his utterances, then they would be jumping at the chance to talk to the bank officials themselves. The refusal of the designated members to go shows they do not want to be part of an impending debacle for Cayetano," he added.

Cerilles said the fact-finding trip will be Cayetano’s chance to prove his charges, instead of shying away from possible proof of his accusations against the Arroyo family.

He recalled that Cayetano even mentioned the bank’s name and the specific account number.