Lawyer explains Mike-Toh contradictions.

(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Byline: Neal H. Cruz

I GOT a quick reaction from the hardworking lawyer Jesus Santos, counsel for First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, on our Sept. 29 column. That column pointed out apparent contradictions in the public statements of the Toh siblings (Vicky Toh, Thomas Toh, and brother-in-law Kelvin Tan) and of FG Mike himself and his kid brother Ignacio, regarding the bank accounts mentioned by Sen. Panfilo Lacson in his privilege speeches.

Lacson had claimed that all the bank accounts, though in the names of Jose Pidal and the three Tohs, really belonged to Mike A. Big Mike denied this, saying he didn't know who Jose Pidal was. The Tohs came out with their own statement, claiming that the bank deposits in their names are really theirs, not Mike's.

Later, Little Brother Iggy came out of nowhere and claimed that the Jose Pidal accounts (there were two) were his. He also said that in 2001, he had told Big Mike that he was closing the accounts because the Anti-Money Laundering Act (Amla), then about to take effect, prohibits bank deposits under fictitious names.

Big Mike himself confirmed that: Yes, he was told about the Jose Pidal account by Iggy back in 2001.

The apparent contradictions pointed out by the Sept. 29 column: If Big Mike had known as early as 2001 that Iggy was Jose Pidal, why did he say in September 2003, that he didn't know who Jose Pidal was? If the Tohs had admitted early on that the bank accounts cited by Lacson were really theirs, why did the different banks issue certifications that those bank accounts "do not exist"? Rather confusing, aren't they?