Metrobank: Bank official arrested after fraud discovery

Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. (Metrobank) on Friday said that an individual was arrested after it has learned of the alleged fraud the person has committed, which government agents believe to have reached P1.75 billion.

"Upon our own discovery, the bank immediately caused the arrest of the individual involved in this case, who has been detained by the authorities since Monday," Metrobank said in a statement.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) identified the suspect as Ma. Victoria "Marivic" Lopez, head of Metrobank's corporate service management.

NBI presents Ma. Victoria Lopez, suspect in the internal fraud that hit Metrobank. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/fziZhSq4wh

— Virgil Lopez (@virgillopez) July 21, 2017

The NBI said the entrapment operation was made upon the request by the bank which reported Lopez's activities on July 13.

Agent Normando Anire said Lopez was handling a corporate client which has a P25-billion credit line and allegedly executed two loans worth P900 million and P850 million.

He said Lopez made a “falsified letter” from the client ordering the bank to issue a manager’s check in favor of an individual payee for interest payments for the loans, amounting to P2.25 million.

"The [Metrobank] official alleged that he noticed several irregularities in the letter request concerning a loan transaction of a client being facilitated by Lopez. The official added that upon verification with the client, the client confirmed that they were not aware of the letter request and even the account from which the manager's check was supposed to be debited," the NBI said.

Lopez was arrested by members of the NBI Anti-Fraud Division on July 17.

She then underwent inquest proceedings for charges for qualified theft, falsification and violation of the General Banking Law before the Makati City Prosecutor's Office on July 18.

The NBI said they are conducting a follow up investigation to determine the other possible collaborators and co-conspirators of Lopez, who is currently detained at the NBI headquarters in Manila.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer broke the news early Friday that a senior official of the said bank allegedly funneled disbursed loans into fictitious accounts, amounting to an estimated P900 million.

In its statement, however, the George Ty-led bank did not identify the suspect and declined to provide more details as the case has already been filed.

"No customer has been affected in this incident. In the context of the bank's P1.9 trillion financial resources, rest assured that we continue to operate business as usual for the bank and our customers," Metrobank noted.

"The bank is reinforcing its commitment to the highest standards of integrity and upholds the protection of its customers as its main priority," it added. —RSJ/KG/KBK, GMA News