TRANSCRIPT OF INTERPELLATION OF SEN. DRILON

Questioning Edgardo T. Yambao

YAMBAO: Hindi ko po lubos maunawaan hanggang ngayon kung ano ang dahilan at ako'y pinatawag sa pagdinig na ito. Katulad po ng aking nasabi, ako po ay isang private citizen hidni po ako pulitiko at hindi rin ako government official. Ni minsan hindi ako na identify sa sinumang politician o nagpagamit sa sinumang military official. Hindi ko rin po kasalanan kung ako ay naging brother in law ng dating heneral ng Armed Forces of the Philippines. Hindi ko rin po kasalanan kung ang isang probadong mamamayang katulad ko ay nakapag pundar ng sariling negosyo, ari-arian tulad ng condominium, sasakyan at iba pa. ako po ay isang ordinaryong mamamayan. Wala po akong inagrabyadong tao o nilabag na batas. Kung sakaling kayo man ay may suspicion na maaaring ako ay dummy ng aking brother in law o kapatid, sanalang po mabigyan nyo ako ng benefit of the doubt at mabigyan nyo rin ng pagkakataon na makapag testigo sa Sandiganbayan kung saan nakabinbin ang demanda laban sa amin. Hindi naman po siguro kalabisan kung ako ay bibigyan nyo ng pagkakataon na makapag prisinta ng aking depensa sa Sandiganbayan kung saan sa tingin ko ay mas nararapat na humarap imbes na ngayon at sagutin ang mga katanungan na para bang ako'y akusado sa pagdinig na ito. Inaamin ko po ako ako ay hindi abugado at sa abot ng aking kaalaman, siguro naman ay may karapatan din ako sa ilalim ng ating Saligang Batas upang manahimik at magkaroon ng privacy bilang isang pribadong mamamayan. Wala po akong hangad na maging suwail sa inyong pagpapatawag subalit minamarapat kong ilahad ang aking testimonya at ebidensya sa tamang oras at tanggapan upang mapangalagaan ko ang aking karapatan at sana ay inyong maunawaan upang sa mga susunod na pagdinig ay di na ako makaabala o maabala pa. ipagpaumanhin po ninyo ang aking katugunan sa inyong mga malalalim na katanungan lalo't ako ay hindi isang abugado. Pero minamarapat ko na sundin ko ang payo ng aking mga abugado nang sag anon ay mabigyan din ako ng protekyon sa ilalim ng ating batas. Tatanggapin ko po kung anuman ang magiging hatol ng ating hukuman ukol sa mga kasong inihain laban sa akin at igagalang ko kung anuman ang inyong iniisip pero hindi lahat ng yan ay totoo. Nakikiusap lang po ako n asana ay hayaan nyo na ang ating mga hukuman kung ako man ay nagkasala.

DRILON: Just in a short response to your statements. You have been invited here as a resource person... Your testimony in the courts would be completely a separate issue than your testimony for the purpose of this hearing being a different nature. Mr. Yambao how old are you?

YAMBAO: 53.

DRILON: You look very fit. Ano ang exercise mo?

YAMBAO: Iba iba po pero masasabi ko po kayo rin.

DRILON: Kayo ba'y naggi-gym kagaya ko?

YAMBAO: Paminsan minsan po.

DRILON: Mahilig ba kayo sa ballroom dancing?

YAMBAO: Nag aattend po ako pero hindi ako mahilig.

DRILON: Saan kayo nagbo-ballroom dancing?

YAMBAO: Nakalimutan ko yung mga pangalan because matagal na po.

DRILON: Nagtuturo din kayo ng mga pagsayaw?

YAMBAO: Dance instructor po ba? Hindi po.

DRILON: Kilala nyo ba yung Ma. Cristina Mercado Laurel?

YAMBAO: Siya po ay asawa ni Mr. Antonio Castillo Laurel na mga kaibigan ko.

DRILON: Kasi po sa aking pagsusuri si Ma. Cristina Mercado Laurel ay isa po sa mga personalities kung saan nilipat yung mga accounts ng mga Ligot papunta sa kanya kaya tinatanong ko kung kilala nyo siya. How did you know her?

YAMBAO: Ipagpaumanhin nyo po bago ko sagutin ang tanong na yan gusto kong magkaroon ng konting correction sa tanong na yan na nalipat ang account ng mga Ligot sa mga Laurel.

DRILON: Bakit po?

YAMBAO: Wala pong katotohanan yan.

DRILON: Bakit nyo po alam?

YAMBAO: Merong supplemental complaint ang Ombudsman na nagsasabi na yung accounts ng mga Ligot ay nilipat sa accounts ng mga Laurel at kinausap nila ako diyan at sinabi nila na walang katotohanan yan.

DRILON: Sinabi ni Mrs. Laurel na walang katotohanan yan?

YAMBAO: Hindi po Mrs. Laurel, si Mr. Laurel po.

DRILON: Ngunit ayon sa record ng Anti Money Laundering Council, na trace na may mga accounts ang mga anak ni Mr. and Mrs. Ligot--basically si Paolo Ligot, Riza Ligot at pati si Erlinda Ligot may mga ilang accounts ang nailipat kay Gilda Velasquez at Antonio Laurel. But let us put that aside. Saan po kayo nakatira?

YAMBAO: Ipagpaumanhin nyo po kung hindi ko man masagot ang katanungang yan sa kadahilanang marami na pong naglabasan na articles at columns na ako raw ay nag amass na P303 million in the last...

DRILON: Tinatanong ko lang po kung saan kayo nakatira.

YAMBAO: Ipapaliwanag ko po kung bakit hindi ko masabi. For security reasons po because hindi nyo naitatanong marami tayong carjackers ngayon marami tayong kidnappers at yan pag napabalita na ang dami mo pera ay baka maging target ka. Ako naman po ay isang ordinaryong mamamayan. Wala naman akong malalapitan na pwedeng magbigay ng proteksyon sa akin kagaya ng dating Ombudsman Marcelo na lumapit daw kay Gen. Abu at Gen. Abaya...

DRILON: Sige po wag masyadong maraming palabok. Hindi nyo masabi kung saan kayo nakatira? Tinatanong namin yan kasi nung sinerve namin yung subpoena sa Blk. 2 Lot 4 Phase 3 MBAI Subd Muntinlupa wala na kayo ron ngunit yan ang address na nakalagay sa mga dokumentong nahagilap namin.

YAMBAO: Inuulit ko po hindi ko pwede i-deny o i-confirm. Per record, nabalitaan ko na ang subpoena ay ipinadala nyo sa Zulueta, Puno Law Offices na hindi ko naman counsel.

DRILON: It was first sent to Muntinlupa and they refused to receive it there that's why it was sent to Mr. Zulueta's law office. We are asking that question because it would appear from the documents that we have that your addresses in various documents would be Blk 2 Lot 4 Phase 3 MBAI Subd Muntinlupa or at #443 FOQ 16 Arevalo Camp Aguinaldo Quezon City which was the address of Gen. Ligot when he was still in active service. You have also indicated Unit 5-I 5th Flr One Burgundy Plaza Katipunan Ave Loyola Hgts Quezon City which you purchased on January 28, 1999 for P1,405,300. Finally you have another residence at Unit 19-A Lawton Tower Essensa East Forbes Condominium Fort Bonifacio Taguig. That's why I'm asking because there are so many different addresses that appear in various documents.

YAMBAO: Meron akong mailing address. Ang kadahilanan po kung bakit ginagamit ko ang address ng aking kapatid at akign bayaw ay kadalasan, maybe it is a public record already, ako ay nasa ibang bansa at lahat ng aking mga credit card bills at kung anu-ano pang bills na ayoko namang ma-scrutinize ng ibang tao ay ina-address ko sa kanila para pagdating ko mabubuo ko at kung di ko man mabayaran sa oras pwede po nilang itawag sa akin o itext at pakikiusapan ko sila na bayaran para sa akin.

DRILON: What is your educational attainment?

YAMBAO: Ako po ay isang Business Administration graduate.

DRILON: Saan po?

YAMBAO: Lyceum of the Philippines po.

DRILON: What is your profession?

YAMBAO: Isa po akong negosyante.

DRILON: And you have been a businessman for how long?

YAMBAO: I think since... in the '80s pa po.

DRILON: What is your business?

YAMBAO: Ako po ay isang trader at the same time supplier sa ibat ibang supermarkets. Meron din po akong tinatanggap na consultancy sa aking mga kaibigan sa ibang lugar.

DRILON: Are you also a supplier in the Armed Forces?

YAMBAO: Never po.

DRILON: How much is your income? For, let's say, 2009, if you can respond.

YAMBAO: Hindi ko po yata pwedeng sagutin yan kasi it might incriminate me.

DRILON: For 2008?

YAMBAO: Again your honor ipagpaumanhin nyo po it might be taken against me.

DRILON: Ok. Let's jump. Do you remember how much was your income in 1999?

DRILON: Hindi ko rin po matandaan pero at that time I think nag-retire na ako eh, tumigil na ako kasi at that time nagkaroon ako ng problema sa puso kaya ako ay tumigil na para di na ma-stress and I just want to go on with my life.

DRILON: Nagkaroon ka ng problema sa puso.

YAMBAO: Opo.

DRILON: Ano pong problema? Tungkol sa pag-ibig?

YAMBAO: Sana po kasama rin yon.

DRILON: Ngayon since you retired in 1999, in 2000 how much was your income?

YAMBAO: Your honor I don't have the figures.

DRILON: Let me help you in your memory. You know Mr. Yambao, the revenue officers of the BIR--Ernesto Gammad, Atty. Marinella Herman and five other revenue officers--in a joint affidavit dated April 14, 2005, stated that their "investigation revealed that spouses Edgardo Tecson Yambao and Maria Isabel Yambao had no visible means of income whether from gainful employment or in the exercise of their profession." This statement is supported by a certification of BIR revenue district offices of South Quezon, Las Pinas, Muntinlupa and Cubao, that you did not file any income tax return from 1993-2003. Do you confirm that?

YAMBAO: Yan pong mga contentions na yan ay na-discuss na at ako ay na-file-an na ng kaso ng BIR na kasalukuyan ngayon ay naka pending pa.

DRILON: Na-dismiss yun eh.

YAMBAO: Nasa Court of Appeals po.

DRILON: But you confirm this is one of the documents presented by the BIR?

YAMBAO: Sa dami po ng dokumento hindi ko po pwedeng sabihin na 'I can confirm'. Pwede kong dalhin ang dokumento...

DRILON: Oo dadalhin ko at ipapakita ko sa'yo. Indeed I can show to you the certifications of the BIR that you did not file any income tax return and in fact, according to you, you did not file your income tax return for taxable years 1999-2003 because you assert that you "did not earn any income through compensation or professional fees." You stated this in Paragraph 15 in your affidavit dated June 2, 2005 which you filed with the Department of Justice. Do you confirm this? This is under oath in the Department of Justice.

YAMBAO: Pwede ho ba ako makakuha ng kopya para mabasa ko at magkaroon naman ako ng idea kasi po sa dami ng kaso na pinataw sakin ng Republic, hindi ko na po malaman kung ano ang sasagutin ko at hindi.

DRILON: We did not invent this. This is based on counter-affidavit that you filed.

YAMBAO: I submit your honor.

DRILON: Notwithstanding the fact that you stated under oath that you did not earn any income and I am quoting you in your affidavit, on January 28, 1999 when you did not file income tax return, you purchased Unit 5-I 5th Flr One Burgundy Plaza for P1.4 million. You purchased a Toyota Hilander for P2.8 million in 2001. In 2002 you purchased 1 Subaru Forester for P1.1 million. In 2003 another Subaru Forester for P1.3 million and a condominium unit in Essensa East Forbes Condominium under condominium certificate 8450 which you acquired from your sister Erlinda Tecson Yambao Ligot for P25 million per deed of sale dated August 18, 2003. Since the BIR certified that you did not file any income tax return for the years 1999-2003 and you stated under oath in your counter-affidavit in the Department of Justice that you did not earn any income. Where did you get all these funds to purchase all these properties which amount to P30 million?

YAMBAO: As I have said your honor, simula pa po nung '80's ako ay nagnenegosyo na. Nandun po sa aking opening statement na kahit papano ako ay nakapag pundar at nung 1999 kaya ako ay tumigil dahil sa aking naging kapansanan. Maaring hindi ako nakapag file ng income tax as mentioned by the BIR pero ako po ay nagbayad ng taxes in form of final tax. Final tax means yung aking naipon at nakuhang investments galing sa mga kaibigan na nagtiawala sa akin ay kumita at nabawasan ng 20% withholding tax.

DRILON: What are these transactions where you paid a final tax?

YAMBAO: Sabi nyo nagbigay ng report sa inyo ang AMLC na nakasaad don kung ano yung mga accounts na...

DRILON: The question that I am asking what are these transactions where you paid a final tax which enabled you to generate so much monies. First just P30 million for these real estate properties. Sinabi nyo naman total bayad na rin ang taxes na ito so you should be able to tell us what are these transactions where you paid a final tax.

YAMBAO: Ipagpaumanhin nyo po pero I have to respect the privacy of the other parties.

DRILON: Your income tax is being discussed and the privacy of other parties is not involved here. I'm just asking you because you claimed that while you did not file income tax returns a 20% final tax was paid. What are these transactions so that at least we can determine if the P30 million is validly sourced.

YAMBAO: Kaya ko nasabing privacy of other parties, it might incriminate yung katayuan ko. Baka ako naman idemanda nila at nire reveal ko ang kanilang transactions.

DRILON: You were saying the privacy of other parties, now you're saying it's going to incriminate. You admitted that you did not file any income tax. You yourself asserted that had no income but you said you have transactions where final tax was paid. What are these transactions? For example, you purchased a P25 million condominium from your sister. You cannot claim final tax there because you are the purchaser. Which transaction allowed you to make a gain for which a final tax was paid, in order to justify and we can understand where these monies came from. Otherwise the conclusion is that you are dummy.

YAMBAO: Ipagpatawad nyo po Mr. Senator kung sasabihin ko sa inyong I will never admit that I am a dummy and I'll never be used as a dummy.

DRILON: Of course you will not admit that you are a dummy. What are the transactions from which final tax was paid and from you can say 'this is the source of my income.'

YAMBAO: Yung sinasabi nyo na pag purchase ko ng Essensa, itong condominium na ito ay kasama sa kaso sa Sandiganbayan so hindi ako pwedeng mag expose upon the advise of my counsel dahil baka ako ay ma incriminate at magamit yung mga sasabihin ko dito against me.

DRILON: Why would it incriminate you? I do not understand.

YAMBAO: if it will be my turn na magpresenta ng ebidensya at depensa sa Sandiganbayan, mahirap naman kung ngayon sasabihin ko na ang aking mga contentions baka ma pre empt...

DRILON: Hindi ganon ang right against self-incrimination. I think a first year law student would understand that. What are your transactions from where you realized gain for which a final tax was made according to you.

TG: You cannot invoke the right of privacy of others so please answer the question.

YAMBAO: Ipagpaumanhin nyo po kagalang galang na mga senador, as a private citizen according to my lawyers at napag aralan ko na po na I also have a right to privacy. Hindi ko pwedeng i-reveal in public kung ano man ang aking mga transaksyon because I'm a private citizen.

DRILON: The last time right to privacy was invoked here was at the time of Jose Pidal by Atty. Antonio Zulueta. He invoked his right to privacy. Atty. Zulueta was the lawyer of Iggy Arroyo. He was also the lawyer of Jocjoc Bolante according to reports. Now he is the lawyer of Gen. Ligot. I am not surprised that the right to privacy is again being invoked by you at this point. You still own the condominium at Essensa?

YAMBAO: Opo.

DRILON: Do you stay there?

YAMBAO: As I have stated before, I can never confirm nor deny for security reasons.

DRILON: Who stays there?

YAMBAO: Hindi ko rin po masasabi yan.

DRILON: Bakit hindi nyo masabi?

YAMBAO: Because meron pong sariling karapatan yung mga taong nakatira don.

DRILON: Magkano ang condominium fees sa Essensa?

YAMBAO: I think P26-28,000 po yata.

DRILON: Are you sure?

YAMBAO: Hindi po ako sigurado.

DRILON: Bakit hindi mo ba binabayaran?

YAMBAO: Binabayaran ko po pero pinapabayaran ko lang po dun sa mga inuutusan ko. Minsan nag iiwan na lang ako ng pambayad. Madalas po akong wala sa Pilipinas.

DRILON: Saan kayo pumupunta?

YAMBAO: Kung saan saan po dahil nga nagka problema na ako dito nung 2005, minarapat kong maghanap ng magagawang pangkabuhayan sa ibang lugar dahil nahihirapan ako dito dahil lahat ng aking ari arian pati na rin ang aking accounts ay na freeze lahat. Pati na rin yung panahon--mga 1989 o 90--nung kasalukuyang nakaulong ang aking brother in law, pati yung pinurchase na mga properties at mga bank accounts ko na napakatagal na ay pina-freeze po.

DRILON: Do you earn income in your business abroad?

YAMBAO: Upon the advise of my counsel I cannot disclose that.

DRILON: The more you do not disclose these things the more is the belief being supported that you are a dummy of Gen. Ligot because you keep on saying you cannot disclose these things. The accounts were frozen but what the AMLC froze was only $20,573 and P614,605.96 which means that a lot of your accounts, I think amounting to P300 million, was withdrawn and was never frozen. Our records indicate that you withdrew and deposited in about 3 accounts--dollars and pesos--sizeable sums of money. I would just enumerate them in round figures. Citibank, Metrobank, United Overseas Bank in 2001, you deposited $202,761.81 and P3.9 million, round lang ito just for the sake of time. In 2002, you deposited in Citibank, Metrobank and UOB $775,000 and P17 million. In 2003, you deposited in Citibank, Metrobank and UOB $2.3 million and P20.7 million. In 2004, you deposited Citibank, Metrobank and UOB $302,000 and P21.5 million. In 2005, in Citibank, Metrobank and UOB you deposited a total of over $60,000 and P5.9 million. For 5 years, you deposited over $3.7 million or a peso equivalent of P185 million, and almost P70 million or a total of about P255 million in cash. What was the source of these deposits?

YAMBAO: Bago ko po sagutin yan sana naman maintindihan nyo, pwede po ba ako magtanong?

DRILON: Kanino po kayo magtatanong?

YAMBAO: Sa inyo po.

DRILON: Mamaya na dalawa lang tayo mag usap e.

TG: Please just answer the question ni Sen. Drilon.

YAMBAO: Kasi po parang chicken and egg ang mangyayari dito e. I cannot confirm and I will never admit na nagkaroon ako ng ganyang kalalaking accounts kaya nasabi ko sa inyo kung pwede akong magtanong kasi as far as I am concerned, hindi ko winaive ang aking karapatan under the Bank Secrecy Law kaya ako ay nagtataka kung bakit nagkaroon ng ganyang revelation.

DRILON: Ito po ay galing sa records ng husgado. Branch 61, Makati RTC. Report ito ng AMLC and they requested for authority to look into your accounts and the court granted them authority and this is the report to the court. Just to clarify and to tell you where these are coming from. I have all the account numbers listed and confirmed by the AMLC in the last hearing here.

YAMBAO: Ibig ko lang sanang malaman ano po ba ang kaso ko sa RTC ng Makati?

DRILON: Wala kayong kaso sa RTC. Sa ating Anti Money Laundering Act bago matignan ang inyong account na merong suspicious transactions, humihingi ng authority ang AMLC sa husgado na silipin ang accounts at dito po binigyan ng husgado ang AMLC ng karapatan at kapangyarihan sang ayon sa AMLA at ito ay nireport ng AMLC sa husgado, Branch 61, Makati RTC. We have a copy of the report and the court records. This was also brought to the attention of the Ombudsman sometime in 2008. So these are public records. You have every right, you can ask your counsel to take whatever action you believe is appropriate by reason of this revelation but I can assure you that this was done in accordance with the AMLA.

YAMBAO: I submit. And contention ko lang po is hindi po ba bilang isang pribadong citizen, since ako ang inaakusa at ako rin ang sinusuri, di po ba kailangan na magkaroon ako ng notice upang ipaliwanag kung ano po yan... (Yambao confiding with his lawyers) As far as I can remember ilang milyong dolyares ang sinasabi nyo, wala po akong maalala na meron akong ganyang account.

DRILON: You cannot remember?

YAMBAO: Hindi po sa akin yan yung sinasabi nyong account na million dollars. Kung magkakaroon ng pahintulot na ibibigay sa akin malugod kong tatanggapin yan.

DRILON: Do you own account no. 8-142019-842 in Citibank?

YAMBAO: Sa haba ng... sa dami ng digits di ko masasagot lahat.

DRILON: These are the records. We did not invent these. Gen. Carlos Garcia and his wife Clarita are now facing a case in the Department of Justice for tax evasion on the basis of foreign currency deposits and the sums of money which was confiscated from Clarita and their children by US authorities. These sums were considered by BIR as evidence of undeclared income and which the Department of Justice found sufficient for purposes of filing a tax evasion case against the Garcias. Under the Revised Internal Revenue Code, the income tax rate is computed at 32% of the taxable income beyond P500,000 and given what we have discovered, Mr. Yambao, you know you have undeclared deposits of P255 million. You have a potential income tax liability of P91 million, I'm telling you for this undeclared deposits. You know, you stand liable for tax evasion and we will be asking the BIR to examine your accounts and file charges of tax evasion against you. Since you are denying that you are the owner of these accounts, are you willing to waive your right on these bank accounts and have it examined? Since you said it is not yours. We have specific account numbers which are in your name but you are saying are not yours. Ay Since these are not yours, are you willing to waive your right to these bank accounts and we will examine? Anyway it's already examined by the AMLC. Are you willing to do that now?

YAMBAO: Your honor, before anything, yun po kasing...

DRILON: I am just asking you a question. Sabi mo hindi ikaw may ari ng accounts na ito, merong specific numbers. Kayo ho ba'y payag na mag waive ng inyong right dito sa inyong mga accounts na ito para wala nang problema? Kung hindi sa inyo eh di hindi sa inyo ngunit sa pangalan nyo nakalabas ang mga accounts na ito. Kung sinasabi nyong hindi sa inyo yan, are you willing to waive your right to these bank accounts in favor of the government?

YAMBAO: Ipagpaumanhin nyo po. Yun po kasing tanong nyo kanina kung sa akin yang mga accounts na yan, hindi ko matandaan ang lahat ng mga account numbers. Gusto ko lang ma-reiterate dito ang lalaki po ng figures kaya ko sinasabing hindi akin yan.

DRILON: Kaya nga, hindi sayo ito?

YAMBAO: Yun pong figures. Yung P255 million hindi po sa akin yan.

DRILON: Yung mga accounts?

YAMBAO: Hindi ko po ma-remember yung mga accounts pero meron po akong accounts dati--sa Citibank.. I'm not denying it. Metrobank, UOB.

DRILON: Ngayon hindi mo na dine-deny.

YAMBAO: Meron nga po akong accounts yun pong na-freeze.

DRILON: Inaamin mo may mga accounts ka sa Metrobank, Citibank at UOB?

YAMBAO: Opo.

DRILON: Kailan ito? So that we can proceed.

YAMBAO: Before pa ng 2000 meron na akong accounts.

DRILON: In 2001, did you deposit $152,716.81 in Citibank under account number 8-142019-842? Do you admit that you own this account or not?

YAMBAO: Hindi ko po matandaan ang mga account numbers but I admit that I had previous accounts sa Citibank. Hindi ko matandaan ang mga numbers because wala na po akong mga accounts diyan.

DRILON: Were you in the Philippines at that time, 2001?

YAMBAO: Off and on po. Paalis alis po.

DRILON: Dahil may negosyo kayo sa labas ng bansa.

YAMBAO: Maaari po.

DRILON: Nag negosyo kayo sa labas ng bansa?

YAMBAO: Pasensya na kayo kung hindi ko pwedeng i-reveal yan dahil nakatutok po ang BIR sa akin.