Bakit nakapag-release ang LandBank of the Philippines Malolos Highway branch ng PHP457 million in cash sa loob lang ng dalawang araw sa SYSM Construction?
Tanong ito ni Senator Kiko Pangilinan sa branch head na si Ma. Lilibeth Lim sa ginanap na pagdinig ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee noong September 25, 2025, ukol sa maanomalyang flood control projects.
Ang naturang construction firm ay pag-aari ni Sally Santos, isa sa mga contractors na iniuugnay sa multi-billion infrastructure corruption issue sa ilalim ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Ang tanong pa ng senador: “Ma’am, practice ba iyan ng bangko na magre-release ng PHP457 million cash? Hindi ba red flag na iyan, dapat nire-report?”
“Ang gusto natin malaman nito, e, complicit ba ang banking system natin sa ganitong klaseng corruption?
“Paano nangyayari na daang milyon, kalahating bilyong piso, parang pikit-mata ang ating banking system?”
Ayon naman kay Lim: "Hindi po kasi ako magtataka or mag-iisip ng negative since the funding is coming from the government and the DPWH, knowing it's for the projects."
Read: Philippine Flood Control Corruption: A Timeline
LANDBANK EMPLOYEE’S OPEN LETTER TO SENATOR KIKO PANGILINAN
Ngayong October 1, isang Bernadette Zamora ang nag-post sa kanyang Facebook account ng open letter kay Sen. Kiko.
Ayon kay Bernadette, isa siyang simpleng banker, empleyado ng LandBank, at isa ring Filipino taxpayer.
Pinuna niya ang para sa kanya’y “repeated criticisms” ng senador sa LandBank.
Nakasaad sa open letter ni Bernadette: “I hope you also remember that we, too, are taxpayers.
"We, too, are affected by this issue—robbed not only of money and energy, but sometimes even of the hope that things can still get better in our country, which, for many of us, is becoming harder and harder to love.”
Para kay Bernadette, hindi dapat sisihin ang bangko:
“Would it not be more fruitful to turn our eyes to the real problem, instead of placing blame on a bank that performs only what the law and mandated procedures require?"
Mungkahi pa ng banker, ayusin na lang ang sistema para hindi paulit-ulit na mangyari ang mga ganitong pang-aabuso.
“If we truly want to serve the Filipino people, shouldn’t the effort be directed toward fixing the broken systems that allow these abuses to happen?
“This is where your role as Senator becomes crucial, because you have the power to initiate reforms that can prevent ordinary citizens from ever suffering this kind of betrayal again.”
Pakiusap pa niya: “Please understand that with every public remark directed at the Bank, it often feels as if our wounds are being reopened.
“We are not spared. Like you, we want the truth uncovered. Like you, we seek accountability for those truly responsible.”
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Ipinaliwanag din ni Bernadette ang hirap ng tungkulin ng LandBank employees araw-araw: “The Bank remits billions to the national government to help fund projects, even surpassing targets year after year.”
Himutok pa niya: “And yet, even as we quietly do our share to give back to the government and our country, we find ourselves unfairly placed under suspicion.”
Kaya ang hiling niya kay Sen. Kiko: “Why not focus on diving deeper into the ocean to catch the ‘big fish?’
“Why target an institution that is, in truth, another casualty of a flawed system—one that you, as legislator, have the unique capacity to help reform?”
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LANDBANK EMPLOYEE EXPLAINS BANK HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER ALLOCATED GOVERNMENT FUNDS
Ipinaliwanag ni Bernadette na walang kapangyarihan ang LandBank na kuwestyunin ang allocated government funds.
“It is not our mandate to second-guess projects that, on paper, are intended to benefit the Filipino people.
“But you have the power to shape and strengthen systems so that taxpayers like us are finally and fully protected.”
Sa huli, ang sabi niya: “We long for justice. We want accountability.
“We hope for leaders who will not only seek someone to blame but will help ensure that no Filipino is ever made to feel betrayed again.”
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SENATOR KIKO PANGILINAN REPLIES TO BANK EMPLOYEE'S OPEN LETTER
May tugon si Sen. Kiko kay Bernadette ngayong October 1, 2025, sa kanyang official Facebook page.
Nagpasalamat ang senador sa open letter nito na naka-address sa kanya.
Nauunawaan umano ni Sen. Kiko ang concern nito bilang government employee na nagtatrabaho sa LandBank.
Ayon sa senador: “I completely agree with you that we must focus our efforts at fixing the broken systems.
“I can understand as well your appeal for us to focus on the big fish and rightly so, but focusing on the big fish alone will not end massive corruption because it is systemic in nature and as such it must be addressed as a system and I know you will agree with me that the banking system, particularly government financial institutions such as the LandBank, is part of the system that needs fixing.”
Kaugnay nito, tanong niya kay Bernadette: “May I know why you find it troublesome and disturbing that I am expressing my deep concern as regards how a government financial institution such as your bank allowed at least two withdrawals in cash of close to PHP500 million cash of DPWH funds within a span of 48 hours?
“May I also seek to clarify why other online comments on your post including those comments from other LandBank employees have dismissed my concern regarding such huge cash withdrawals as one coming from someone ignorant of banking laws?”
Bilang magkatrabaho sa gobyerno, sinabi ni Sen. Kiko na parehong tungkulin nila ni Bernadette na protektahan ang interes ng publiko.
Nagkonsulta na rin umano ang senador sa ilang private bankers.
“It is very difficult to defend the release of such a huge amount of money in cash from the coffers of government in a 48-hour period.”
Tanong ni Sen. Kiko kay Bernadette: “As a bank employee, do you consider this as standard bank practice?
“If so, have you likewise allowed this practice involving DPWH accounts in your branch considering that you are defending such a practice?
“In addition, would the Landbank be violating any law if it instead releases the amount requested in the form of a manager’s check or instrument as an additional safeguard, instead of releasing close to half a billion pesos in cash in a span of two days?”
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Pagkaklaro ni Sen. Kiko, hindi raw niya ibinubunton ang sisi sa LandBank.
“And neither am I only seeking to blame anyone as you put it.”
Ang kagustuhan lamang niya ay lumabas ang katotohanan: “My previous interpellations in the Blue Ribbon committee hearings will show that I have called out the need for the DPWH to go after warranties and surety and performance bonds and insurance companies. I have tested the credibility of witnesses and testimonies of witnesses and have worked on citing the contractor Discaya in contempt for lying to the committee among others.
“You are therefore mistaken, and it is untrue to say that I am focusing on LandBank. I am focused on ferreting out the whole truth.”
Aniya, naghahanap ang mga Pilipino ng kasagutan at gusto niyang lumabas ang katotohanan tungkol sa flood control scam.
“They want to know if LandBank branches throughout the country wherein questionable flood control projects are located likewise release piles of cash in the hundreds of millions in such a manner.”
Mali ba aniya na mag-inquire siya kung ang standard banking practice na itinuturing na “strict banking rules and regulations” ay nasunod sa case ng LandBank Malolos branch?
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IS WITHDRAWING FROM LANDBANK DIFFICULT?
Idinagdag din ni Sen. Kiko na maraming bank depositors na nakapanood ng Senate hearings tungkol sa flood control scam ang nagsabing napakahirap mag-withdraw sa LandBank.
“Their own personal experiences in withdrawing even smaller amounts of cash go through a more rigorous process of verification by bank employees.
“I am appealing as well to all other LandBank officials and employees who have similarly posted their comments and their views online directed at me for their kind understanding.”
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Sa hulihang bahagi ng kanyang reply kay Bernadette, ibinahagi ni Sen. Kiko na lumagda si Sally Santos ng waiver ng rights nito bilang depositor sa ilalim ng Secrecy of Bank Deposits Act.
“I will be requesting the LandBank Malolos Branch to turn over all documents pertaining to the monthly bank transactions, deposits, and withdrawals of SYMS Construction involving the DPWH in the last 10 years.
“I hope this request will not be viewed as ‘blaming the bank’ or as ‘being ignorant of banking laws’ as commented online by other LandBank employees like yourself, but instead be welcomed by LandBank as an opportunity to support the Blue Ribbon Committee in gathering the needed documentary evidence in our pursuit of the truth in what has been the described as ‘the largest corruption scandal in Philippine history.’”
Umaasa si Sen. Kiko na ang senado at ang LandBank ay makakahanap ng paraan para masolusyunan ang flaws sa banking system.
Nagpasalamat din siya kay Bernadette.
Na-appreciate umano ng senador ang insights ni Bernadette—bagaman at hindi siya sang-ayon sa ilan dito.
Sambit pa ni Sen. Kiko, “In a democracy, we can agree to disagree with respect.”
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