THE House opposition bloc yesterday called for a congressional inquiry into the leakage of bank records of impeached Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Renato Corona, saying this may cause public panic and scare away foreign investors.

During yesterday’s minority bloc press conference, House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said the premature leakage of Corona’s bank records even before the trial at the Senate Impeachment Court must be addressed with dispatch.

Suarez said they will call officials of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) during the investigation.

He underscored the need to sanction bank officials for such leakage over their purported failure to control their employees to keep the bank records secret at the expense of their clients.

“(This) will definitely scare investors away from investing in the Philippines,” Suarez told reporters.

“I’m drafting a resolution addressing to the two banks, how did it happen that there’s a leak? I’m drafting it today (Wednesday) and it will be filed on Monday,” Suarez stressed. “This will clearly show to investors that Congress will act on this. We will not just allow any violation of the bank secrecy law.”

In the same press conference, House Deputy Minority Leader and Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay said the leakage of bank records was very dangerous and could be experienced by other people who may be targeted by bad elements.

Magsaysay warned that the two banks may suffer bank runs like what had happened to Equitable-PCI Bank during the controversy of then President Joseph Estrada.

“The PSBank and the BPI should be prepared,” Magsaysay warned, adding that the employees who leaked Corona’s bank account “should be fired because the bank’s credibility was put in question.”