No way can BSP, AMLC be used as political tools

This refers to the following statements made by Daxim Lucas in the BizBuzz column titled “Who’s leaking secret bank data?” (Business, 5/2/16).

Lucas wrote: “However, another source told BizBuzz that blaming the banks for leaks would be barking up the wrong tree.

“‘To get the bank account information of anyone in the Philippines, all you need is to know whom to ask in either of two government agencies (hint: one is a financial regulator and the other is a law enforcement body). They can get the information for you,’ the source said. Apparently, it’s really that easy.”

We would like to categorically state that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) are not the source of the documents and information cited by a vice presidential candidate regarding the alleged bank accounts of a certain presidential candidate.

We assure the Filipino people that the BSP and the AMLC are not engaged in partisan politics and will never allow themselves to be used as a tool for political persecution or harassment, or as an instrument to hamper competition in trade and commerce.

—VICENTE S. AQUINO, officer in charge, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; acting chair, Anti-Money Laundering Council