By Christine F. Herrera

Two lawmakers engaged each other in a ?shouting match? yesterday after one of them exposed the possible ?conflict of interest? against deputy governor Nestor Espenilla of the Bangko Sentral.

Espenilla, whose family runs a rural bank in Masbate, supervises the Bangko Sentral?s closure of some 600 rural banks nationwide.

Espenilla?s case triggered a heated argument between Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez at the hearing of the House committee on banks and financial intermediaries chaired by Manila Rep. Jaime Lopez.

The verbal tussle ensued after Villafuerte questioned Espenilla?s motives behind closing down smaller banks that include 13 rural banks under the Legacy Group, owned by Albay Mayor Celso de los Angeles, who is now under investigation for allegedly duping thousands of depositors and pre-need plan holders.

?What right have you to investigate and close down rural banks when your own family runs one in Masbate? That, to me, is a clear case of conflict of interest,? Villafuerte said.

Espenilla?s father, now deceased, was the majority stockholder of the San Jacinto Rural Bank while his three sisters sit in the board as directors.

Rodriguez immediately shot down Villafuerte?s questioning and insisted that it was not Espenilla who is being investigated by the committee but the Legacy Group of De los Angeles.

?Why are we discussing another issue here? That is not part of the agenda today. We are investigating the syndicated scam perpetrated by De los Angeles,? Rodriguez pointed out.

Villafuerte turned his ire on Rodriguez, whom he accused of covering up for the Bangko Sentral officials, who up to now have yet to file a case against De los Angeles.

?Why are you stopping me from questioning the BSP officials? motives when the BSP has been doing its investigation for so long and yet, not a single case has been filed against De los Angeles,? said Villafuerte, who, like De los Angeles, is a Bicolano.

The shouting match was cut short when Lopez banged his gavel and called for order.

Lopez then instructed Espenilla to answer Villafuerte?s questions.

Espenilla admitted to the fact that his family runs the San Jacinto Rural Bank but that he had no interest in it and had nothing to do with the way the family runs the business.