By Eileen A. Mencias

The Bangko Sentral yesterday said it will file more cases against executives of rural banks under the Legacy group that is closely associated with former National Home Mortgage and Finance Corp. head Celso de los Angeles.

The central bank filed 116 counts of falsification of documents and two counts of false statements against 18 officers, employees and agents of four rural banks belonging to the Legacy group on Friday with the Justice Department. On Jan. 5, the central bank also filed 49 counts of falsification of documents and one case of false reporting and false statement against 16 officers, employees and agents of the Legacy group.

The central bank filed charges against officials of Rural Bank of Para?aque, Rural Bank of San Jose (Batangas), Rural Bank of Darbci, Bank of East Asia, and Dynamic Bank (formerly the Rural Bank of Calatagan, Batangas).

Those charged included Emilio Aguinaldo IV, Shellane Angat, Jacqueline Araneta, Phoebe Babor, Jose Girlo Caramat, Zacarias Carticiano, Teodora Comple, Danilo Consul, Joey Corpus, Joey Corpuz, Rebecca Corpuz, Desiree Dimayuga, Alexander Doctor, Filomena Duhaylungsod, William Escalante, Roy Hilario, Noe Indonto IV, Ernest Jurado, Michelle Ligtas, Haidee Manila, Roy Milario, Joy Melody Narvaez, Perfecto Narvaez, Germiniano Noche, Virgilio Odejar, Marcos Ong, Jerry Piape, Enrique Sillo and Romarico Tanedo.

The central bank has not filed charges yet against De los Angeles, who hinted of conflict of interest among central bank officials. De los Angeles claimed that Ramon Ang, vice chairman of San Miguel Corp., and Indonesia?s Bank Mega were discouraged by the central bank from infusing P7 billion into the banks of the Legacy group.

The central bank closed 15 rural banks in December, including at least 12 suspected to be part of the Legacy group.

The central bank said its investigations revealed a massive diversion of funds from the banks using fictitious loans. It found out that many of the borrowers who were credited with the loans denied having obtained them from the closed banks. Others admitted receiving money ranging from P10,000 to P15,000 for signing blank documents that were later used as the supporting papers for the loans.

The central bank charged that the rural banks under the Legacy group also falsified other documents such as mayor?s permits and registration certifications from the Trade Department.