THE story of a “small lady” turning over bank records of the Chief Justice has become murkier.

This after branch manager Annabelle Tiongson said that Quezon City Rep. Jorge Banal on Jan. 31, 2011 approached her and asked if she could help him verify some bank documents.

Mindoro Oriental Rep. and prosecutor Reynaldo Umali had said that he got a brown envelope from a small lady containing bank documents of Chief Justice Renato Corona only on February 2.

In her testimony, Tiongson said that Banal showed her some documents such as a signature card and a copy of figures on which she saw a dollar sign.

“He went to our branch, and introduced himself as Congressman Banal and a member of the secretariat. He asked me if I could help him on some documents. I said it is impossible,” Tiongson said, in response to Senator-Judge Loren Legarda.

Tiongson admitted that she did not see the whole documents, about two pages of white paper, because Banal was covering them.

“I saw Xerox copies of papers. I only saw a signature card under the name of CJ Renato Corona,” Tiongson narrated.

She also revealed that Banal showed her a dollar sign and asked her: “Is this a dollar sign?’

Bothered by the documents, Tiongson asked Banal where and when he got the records but only told, “If you will help us, I will tell you.”

However, Tiongson told Banal “sorry I cannot help you. We cannot disclose any information on any account.” Upon hearing that, Banal left the bank.

In separate interviews, lead prosecutor Niel Tupas Jr. and Umali said that they stand by their earlier statement that somebody gave them the documents.

Both Tupas and Umali said that they never talked to Banal and have no idea that the lawmaker is holding the same documents as they had.    

Banal admitted that he went to PS Bank Katipunan branch on January 31 to verify the documents of Corona’s bank account and records, particularly the dollar account.

In his recollection, the documents were on a legal size paper, folded and was placed in the gate of his house in St. Ignatius, Quezon City.

To his surprise, he saw the record of the dollar account of Corona, allegedly amounting to $700,000.

“Inaamin ko hindi ko sinabi sa mga kasamahan ko, lalo na sa aming manager na si Rep. Joseph Abaya. Gusto ko kasi muna confirm kung totoo ito kaya nagpapatulong ako kay Ms. Tiongson,” Banal said, adding that he did not want to give the team wrong and unverified information.

Banal apologized for what he did.