Legacy witnesses tag government officials

MANILA, Philippines - Two former ranking officers of the Legacy Group who surfaced yesterday to spill the beans on their boss, Celso de los Angeles, said that there are government officials who benefited from the investment scheme of the companies of the Legacy Group.

But Carolina Hinola and Namnama Santos, former senior vice president and chief finance officer of the Legacy Group, respectively, declined to reveal the identities of the government officials, saying they would do so at the Senate hearing on Monday.

The two are set to testify at the Senate committee on trade and commerce hearing chaired by Sen. Mar Roxas on Monday.

In a press conference yesterday, Hinola and Santos claimed that De los Angeles transferred millions of pesos from a trust fund of the pre-need firm to his personal bank account in Banco de Oro (BDO).

The two showed documents in their possession, including original disbursement vouchers, checks, deposit slips, and other documents contained in two large carton boxes, that could prove the guilt of De los Angeles.

Santos claimed that when Legacy was already in trouble, De los Angeles directed them to hide until the controversy subsided and ordered them to keep all the documents safe.

However, both feared for their lives and decided to seek help from Parents Enabling Parents Coalition (PEPC).

“We do not know where to go. We are very bothered. They (De los Angeles camp) have been calling us,” Hinola said.

According to PEPC president Philip Piccio, their accounting showed that De los Angeles was able to transfer P48 million to his personal bank account.

When they were still with the company, Hinola and Santos admitted that they knew about the irregularities happening inside the pre-need firm but decided to remain silent because they “need to earn a living for their families.”

Now that they have come out to squeal on De los Angeles, Hinola said he would do everything to pin them down.

“Hahanap siya ng butas para kasuhan kami (he will find ways to file cases against us),” Hinola said, citing that De los Angeles had filed raps against other former employees whom their former boss labeled as “traitors.”

Both witnesses are presently under the protective custody of the Department of Justice (DOJ), with the Senate also willing to provide security for them.

Roxas said “De los Angeles’ corrupt schemes should be stopped” and vowed that there would be accountability and justice.