The parish priest who was unwittingly thrust into the limelight over alleged involvement in the leakage of an $81 million deposit involving a top government official is mulling to initiate legal steps to redeem his reputation against those who dragged his name into the controversy.
Fr. Patricio Galon, parish priest of Nuestra Senora De La Paz y Buenviaje (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage) in Songculan, Dauis told DYRD “Inyong Alagad” yesterday, June 20, 2016 that he would consult his lawyer for a possible suit against those who dragged his name into the controversy.
“I will seek the advice of my cousin who is a lawyer regarding the legal steps I will pursue to clear my name for the malicious and baseless insinuations against me”, said Galon.
Galon’s name was bandied around in social media and the Boholano community as the person who sought the media for assistance after allegedly getting a peek at the bankbook of a top provincial government official containing a staggering amount of $81 million.
“I have no dollar deposit. I seldom go to the bank. The parish of Corella has an account in Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), Tagbilaran Branch”.
According to Galon, in the rare times that he visits the bank, the transactions were quick and of short duration.
Galon categorically debunked the scuttlebutt about the teller who unintentionally handed the bankbook of the provincial official to him where he allegedly had a glimpse of the staggering amount of $81 million.
“Never have the bank teller handed to me a bankbook belonging to another depositor in my transaction with the bank”.
Galon also stressed that he never confided to media especially “Cuentas Claras” the alleged existence of the $81 million deposit.
“Cuentas Claras” is a morning program anchored by Atty. Salvador Diputado who posted in his facebook account that the priest, whom he did not mention by name, was bothered by the size of the deposit went to the program to unburden himself.
“I really don’t know Diputado except for the rare social occasions that we meet. At most we only have a nodding acquintace”, Galon clarified.
Diputado is the son-in-law of Vice Governor-elect Dionisio Balite, the incumbent 3rd district Board Member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP).
Galon said that he knew the Balite family when he was the parish priest assigned to Valencia where the family hails.
The $81 million yarn involving a top provincial official went viral after Diputado posted in his facebook account the circumstances leading to it’s discovery by an unnamed priest.
The post caught the attention of social media and stirred the imagination of the public about the incredible story of the P3.5 billion deposit and caused consternation and amusement in the local banking circles. (Chito M. Visarra with reports from Rey Tutas)