(UPDATED) The legal counsel of Filipino-Chinese businessman William Go, who is being implicated in the money laundering scandal involving Bangladesh funds and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC), said Go agreed to meet with Maia Deguito out of curiosity and courtesy to a common friend.

Ramon Esguerra, Go's lawyer, said Allan Peñalosa, manager of the EastWest Bank branch that Deguito formerly managed, supposedly arranged for the meeting.

"I don’t think it would be courteous for Mr. Go not to honor a simple invitation. But as I said, what intrigued Mr. Go at the time that they met—meaning Mr. Peñalosa and Mr. Go—the statement of Mr. Peñalosa that Mr. Go may earn something from this, without elaborating,” Esguerra said on ANC's "Headstart" on Tuesday.

However, when Deguito allegedly confessed to having opened an account under Go’s name, the businessman reportedly became angry and adamantly asked that he not be involved.

Next Senate hearing

Esguerra wants the Senate to investigate why closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras of the RCBC branch where the alleged transaction happened were not functioning. , He also wants to know why Deguito wanted to go to Tokyo.

“You must look at the entire case with [Mrs.] Deguito in the middle because everything passed through her branch, under her watch,” he said.

Sen. Serge Osmeña earlier said that after their executive session with Deguito, they are inclined to believe her testimony is "closer to the truth" and that another person identified as Kim Wong allegedly played a major role in the scheme.

Esguerra left it to the senators to decide on that matter, but believes that the duty to prove the culpability of the people involved should be with Deguito.

READ: Osmeña: Deguito testimony 'closer to truth'

He said they have filed a criminal complaint against Deguito and former senior customer relations officer Angela Torres for allegedly forging Go's signature in official bank documents. He presented a photocopy of the documents submitted by RCBC to the Senate.

Esguerra believes Go was chosen by Deguito for a fake account for because of their previous affiliation and because of how easily Go’s signature can be forged.

Torres, in a phone interview on dzMM, said that they brought P20 million to William Go's car, contradicting former RCBC customer relations head Romualdo Agarrado’s statement that it was loaded into Deguito’s vehicle.

READ: William Go got P20M, says ex-RCBC employee

Esguerra first clarified that while Go did own a Lexus, it was of champagne color, and dismissed Torres' allegation saying Agarrado’s statement bears more weight as his was done under oath.

“Who will you believe, the one who took the oath that he will say the truth and nothing but the truth or the one who was simply being interviewed over the phone?... Who has a reason to lie? To cover up what has been done that led to the irregularity?” he said.

Esguerra also said they may file a case for damages against RCBC for "vicarious liability."