MANILA – The lawyer of embattled RCBC Jupiter branch manager Maia Santos-Deguito on Thursday questioned the timing of the money laundering case filed against his client, hinting that the latter is being set up as the fall guy in the multi-million dollar heist.

In a statement released ahead of the second Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the $81-million money laundering case, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio said his client was supposed to tell everything she knows about the heist.

Deguito was placed under the spotlight after it was discovered that four accounts in her branch were used in pumping into the Philippine banking system funds stolen from the central bank of Bangladesh's account in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

''Our client invoked her right to remain silent and against self-incrimination during the last Senate hearing -- although we were ready to tell all at that time - because the Anti-Money Laundering Counsel (AMLC) filed a case against her the previous day,'' Topacio said in a statement.

''We view as suspicious the timing, and the fact that aside from our client and alleged fictitious persons, AMLC did not file a case against other bank officers notwithstanding evidence of their possible complicity in money-laundering. AMLC either did not do its homework, or is trying to protect certain persons by engaging in selective prosecution."

The four accounts, opened in May last year, remained dormant until February 5 this year, when $81 million was infused into them.

The funds were later consolidated into the account of businessman William Go, who denied knowing anything about the account. The money later ended up in Solaire Resort and Casino, Eastern Hawaii Leisure Co., and junket operator Wikang Xu.

In a previous interview, Deguito hinted that it was impossible for the RCBC main office not to know about the $81 million transaction. RCBC president and CEO Lorenzo Tan, for his part, denied having any knowledge about the transaction, saying the bank handles numerous transactions in a day.

'EXCLUDE AMLC IN EXECUTIVE SESSION'

For most of the hearing, Deguito refused to answer questions regarding the transaction, invoking her right against self-incrimination. The branch manager agreed to tell all in an executive session.

''Our client requested for an Executive Session because in the public session with media and AMLC representatives present, among others, there may be statements made under oath that may be used against her in the pending criminal case mentioned above." Topacio said.

''Since the penalty she faces is seven to fourteen years imprisonment, the Constitutional safeguards in her favor must be invoked to protect her rights, including the right to be presumed innocent. Therefore, we shall request the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to exclude the AMLC representatives since they are the accusers of our client."

Topacio is also questioning the credibility of the RCBC's internal investigation into the heist, noting that '' internal investigator came from ACCRA Law Office, and the lawyers of Lorenzo Tan are also from ACCRA Law.''

The lawyer also called for the resignation of Tan ''as he is already under a very dark cloud of doubt, if only to protect the reputation of the Philippine Banking System from further harm.''

''There is a conspiracy here that boggles the mind involving extremely wealthy, powerful and well-connected individuals, but we are confident that the Senate will no spare anyone, no matter his or her status and stature in the banking community and in Philippine society, so that the incident under investigation will not be repeated,'' he said.

In his opening statement during the Senate haring, Tan said the bank "vehemently denies and disavows any and all knowledge, complicity or participation in the alleged money laundering of $100 million in the Philippines.''

Tan also denied having knowledge of the anomalous transaction, adding that he would not have to approve the transaction as president and CEO for it to push through.

''We have been cooperating and will continue to cooperated with the regulators concerned to the maximum extent allowed by our legal framework to help them get to the bottom of this alleged money laundering,'' he said.