The "Short Lady" Issue: A Threat to Our Bank Account Integrity?
By asiacevillar
@asiacevillar (643)
Philippines
February 10, 2012 12:30am CST
this issue arose when the prosecution panel were asked by Sen. Chiz Escudero to explain about the real specific source of the list of documents that eventually are supposed to be presented to the impeachment court because of the term "Anonymous" contained on its source, Thus resulted to an interruption and thereby delaying the impeachment proceedings.
Rep. Reynaldo Umali, a member of the prosecution panel and to whom the said list of documents was supposedly handed by what he described as a "Short Lady" in an envelope between 2:30 and 3:00 pm Thursday afternoon last week when he was about to leave the Senate which eventually led to a suggestion by some of the Senator- Judges to the senate Sgt. at arms to review the CCTV footages of the senate at that particular time.
But as of this time, the issue is still looming and at large because there had been yet an official order coming from the Office of the Senate President.
But for the moment, was the gentleman from the prosecution panel tell the truth? did he expected that his confessions at that time to be this controversial and critical to the proceedings? Was there REALLY a short lady who handed him the envelope?
this made the Defense panel happy as a clam because the subpoenad documents will be put on hold until the issue is resolved.
But as we go deeper on the issue, and assuming the 'short lady' is indeed true, where did she get and how did she came up with the list of that "suspicious" bank documents? I personally wonder about this for I know only little things about our local banking policies and laws. I understand that we have a Bank secrecy law but how did that short lady came up with the list?
could she be an employee of that bank or just because someone from the bank handed her the documents? could be both, right? but the bottom line is: Leakage of the details and information of our bank account(s) could be at stake or is in danger because of the issue- if all of these are presumably true then it simply means that anyone from the bank itself can have or can gain access and distribute our bank account infos without our knowledge.
could she be an employee of that bank or just because someone from the bank handed her the documents? could be both, right? but the bottom line is: Leakage of the details and information of our bank account(s) could be at stake or is in danger because of the issue- if all of these are presumably true then it simply means that anyone from the bank itself can have or can gain access and distribute our bank account infos without our knowledge.5 responses
@Graceekwenx (3160)
• Philippines
10 Feb 12
Hi Asia! Wow thanks for updating me as i had been at a loss on the impeachment trial.
Anyway, we cant just trust everything thats handed out right? I also agree with you that there is a bank secrecy law that protects all depositers. Are they considering this as a reliable witness?
Corruption is really hard to prove.
@Genericbe (1376)
• Philippines
13 Feb 12
The real truth you have said is that there is no "short lady seen in the CCTV cameras" ,, are they seeing a Ghost already? a paranormal entity? ha ha ha...
The question here is,, Who among them had seen that "short lady ghost"? Maybe that ghost lady has something to deliver in a specific person but not on the said trial concerns.. Where did that short lady enter when no evidence seen on CCTV cameras? she passed or entered through the walls? ha ha ha....I guess the senate not just have to deal only after the impeachment trial but hallucination trial...
Happy lotting =)
@asiacevillar (643)
• Philippines
13 Feb 12
youre very welcome Graceekwenx!
after learning this afternoon that there was no 'small lady' seen on the CCTVs of the Senate, I am now having this doubt in mind that he was just experimented such box-office movie with the small,short lady as the lead actress
. Furthermore, with the result of the investigation, I don't think the senator-judges will be buying his words, this time. 
. Furthermore, with the result of the investigation, I don't think the senator-judges will be buying his words, this time. @asiacevillar (643)
• Philippines
15 Feb 12
lol..but nobody there could testify that they saw a small lady handing an envelope to Rep. Umali, actually it was his claim that it was really handed over to him by that 'short,little lady'. And with the latest result of the CCTV footage he is now trying to contrive yet another box-office alibis.
@greenpeas (998)
• Philippines
13 Feb 12
I dont think the bank secrecy law should be absolute. In extraordinary cases like the impeachment proceeding, the rights of the Filipino people to know the truth and seek justice should given priority. Why will a bank secrecy law be absolute so as to let criminals and corruption to flourish? What is the use of bank secrecy law if the country goes to the dogs?
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
14 Feb 12
The main use of the law is to give everyone the same rights and obligations. It is an instrument of public order, protection and justice. I agree that some laws need not be absolute and should always be interpreted to the the occasion. However, the issue here is that one ruling on one case can be applicable to others. It is also matter of trust on part of the banking industry since we trust them with our money. If the bank secrecy law is undermined, not only the accused's accounts will be in potential danger but other people who entrusted their money or wealth to these banks. The banks will lose credibility and we might lose an important industry in our society.
@greenpeas (998)
• Philippines
14 Feb 12
@jeanneyvonne I understand the fear of those in the banking industry. But I dont think the law should always say one size fits all. In extraordinary cases like what I have specified, the banking industry should surrender informations about a suspected lawbreaker for the benefit of the majority. We are not like Switzerland and today even this country is under fire for coddling criminals that hide their loot.
I dont believe there are any potential danger at all with asking one bank account if there is a strictly followed protocol with releasing this kind of information. It will actually be a positive development if we have safeguards against money launderers hiding millions of dollars in our banks. I know it is natural for banks to accept money because its what keeps it running, but not at the extent of coddling those that amassed this money illegally.
@tipay26 (867)
• Philippines
10 Feb 12
I noticed that too and was alarmed by that.I mean I know that we have bank secrecy law and giving that knowledge you will ask yourself too how did that happen??Who instructed the "short lady" to divulge such documents?And if ever there was a "short lady" many bank clients will be alarmed also because of that incident.I have asked some friends about that too if that could be possible a friend told me that maybe the so called short lady was paid a great amount of money to divulge such information if ever there was really a short lady.The problem here now is many people will have doubts in placing their bank information in any bank now because of that incident.
@asiacevillar (643)
• Philippines
13 Feb 12
that could also be possible, in order for those documents to be divulged. 
@Genericbe (1376)
• Philippines
11 Feb 12
The prosecution panels in this impeachment trial are messy. As you can observe in the preceded trials, they are the one compelling with their witnesses to extract information outside their limitations and duties to only present and direct examine the witnesses. If fact, if they really know the truth, it will just come up ahead in public about the real identity of the "short or little lady". However, politics are considered as dirty one and that is the reason why there is a clear separation of CHURCH and STATE. I guess, it is not only in bank where the secrecy law are being violated, almost all other agencies who have our personal records do violate this for their benefit. Even other network communication lines sell our mobile cards number to numerous marketing companies for sales. This is the reality.
I guess, the best way to deal this matter in avoiding involving other common people or citizens is to make an order that "ALL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS MUST HAVE THEIR SEPARATE BANK AGENCIES DIRECTLY FOR THEM AND THERE THEY PUT ALL THEIR POLICIES SO THAT IF THERE ARE LEGAL CASES LIKE THIS, THEY KNOW WHERE TO AUTOMATICALLY DIRECT THE RECORDS AND NOT DRAG OTHER PRIVATE COMPANIES JUST FOR THEIR COMPLIANCE OR SUBPOENAS". Also, let those officials/ employees sign a waiver that they are aware that their records are open screening since they are government officials and it is a public figure that the taxpayers are paying for..Since they are lawmakers, make a law that separate public officials from private people as well the depth of scope in terms of securities. I am sure, this will help partly solve the massive graft and corruption and manipulation of their abuse powers in political arena. They will be very cautious.Since, they have accepted the job as public official then they have that liability to be questioned. IF not, then leave a public position and go for private positions to avoid this kind of problems that will be a nightmare for them and their dynasty.
HAppy lotting 
@yahnee (1243)
• Philippines
10 Feb 12
If the anonymous short lady is indeed true and not a fiction of the imagination, then it will certainly hurt the credibility of the banking industry. It comes to a point that investors will no longer trust the banks for fear that the secrecy of bank information can be breached by an ordinary employee if she really is one. This issue is very critical not only to the parties concerned by for all the rest of us. In their haste to make public the evidences on the Chief Justice Corona, this ploy might not only hurt Corona but the entirety of the banking industry. I just wonder how much money has exchanged hands to get this qualified information. I am not for Corona or the defense and neither am I siding with the prosecution , but it seems to me that the haste by which they impeached the Chief Justice in Congress in now backfiring.
@asiacevillar (643)
• Philippines
13 Feb 12
Hi!
you're right there. anyway, I just learned several hours ago when presiding officer JPE announced the outcome of their investigation thru the senate CCTVs that there was no 'small lady' seen on the footage when Rep. Umali supposedly left the senate building,Hence leaving us with a big question mark on our heads. I am now beginning to have the doubt in mind that he could be or was just experimented such statement, I don't know, but he could be.
. anyway, I just learned several hours ago when presiding officer JPE announced the outcome of their investigation thru the senate CCTVs that there was no 'small lady' seen on the footage when Rep. Umali supposedly left the senate building,Hence leaving us with a big question mark on our heads. I am now beginning to have the doubt in mind that he could be or was just experimented such statement, I don't know, but he could be.