Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson has begun scrutinizing an alleged scheme involving former military personnel who allegedly delivered large sums of cash to ranking public officials, supposedly upon the instructions of ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co.
Lacson, who initiated the preliminary checks ahead of the formal filing of a Senate resolution directing the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to investigate the matter, noted two key areas that need further checking.
“We will evaluate first the source of information, which in this case are the 18 alleged Marine personnel who appeared at a press conference last Tuesday. Second is the reliability or credibility of the information itself, meaning the content of their affidavit,” said Lacson, who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
In Filipino: Lacson, Sinusuri ang Umano’y Cash Delivery Scheme na Kinasasangkutan ng mga Ex-Militar
On Wednesday, Sen. Ma. Imelda Josefa Remedios “Imee” Marcos filed Senate Resolution 317 seeking an inquiry in aid of legislation into the alleged money delivery scheme involving ex-military personnel. The resolution was referred to the Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Lacson.
The resolution cited the press conference last Feb. 24 where 18 supposed former Marines claimed they delivered billions of pesos in cash to the houses of officials including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Lawyer Levito Baligod, who presented the alleged ex-Marines, also claimed Co and former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV funded hotel accommodations and other expenses of investigators from the International Criminal Court (ICC) while they were in the Philippines.
Lacson said he has written the Philippine Navy and Philippine Army to conduct a record check and background investigation on the 18 supposed ex-Marines, amid initial reports showing many of them were dishonorably discharged and some were never members of the Philippine Navy.
Also, Lacson raised questions about the reported amount of P805 billion allegedly delivered in cash. He said this figure is more than 70 percent of the P1.13 trillion allocated for flood control projects from 2023 to 2025.
He noted that the remaining P325 billion of the P1.13-trillion total flood control funding appears mathematically irreconcilable with the kickbacks already admitted to be facilitated and received by figures like former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional director Roberto Bernardo and district engineer Henry Alcantara — and even less so with the costs for the actual implementation of flood control projects in the three-year period.
“The numbers just don’t add up,” Lacson said.
Lacson pointed out as well the challenge of transporting such an amount in cash, saying at least 13,416 large maletas (suitcases) capable of containing P50 to P70 million each would be needed to contain P805 billion.
“It’s mind-boggling. When we talk about large suitcases containing P50 to P70 million each, and we consider P805 billion, at least 13,400 large suitcases would be required — not counting smaller ones,” he said.
Lacson also questioned the timing of the supposed ex-Marines’ press conference – on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the EDSA-1 revolt where protest actions against corruption were to be held; and in the middle of the ICC’s confirmation of charges hearings in connection with the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
He observed that the press conference Tuesday was held at the Club Filipino, a prominent venue for events that led to the EDSA-1 revolt in 1986.
“Ang pino-project doon, napaka-corrupt ng ICC. Nilagyan ng $2M allegedly through former Sen. Trillanes (The projection was that the ICC was corrupt because its personnel supposedly received $2 million through former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV),” he said.
“Sa akin, mukhang not just may political color, mukhang may destabilization aspect (To me, it looked like the press conference had not only political color, but a destabilization aspect as well),” he added.
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Lacson, Sinusuri ang Umano’y Cash Delivery Scheme na Kinasasangkutan ng mga Ex-Militar
Sinimulan ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ang pagsusuri sa isang umano’y scheme na kinasasangkutan ng mga dating tauhan ng militar na sinasabing naghatid ng malalaking halaga ng pera sa matataas na opisyal ng gobyerno, diumano’y sa utos ng dating kongresista na si Elizaldy Co.
Ayon kay Lacson, nagsagawa na siya ng paunang beripikasyon bago pa man pormal na ihain ang isang resolusyon sa Senado na mag-uutos sa Senate Blue Ribbon Committee na imbestigahan ang usapin. Aniya, may dalawang mahalagang punto na kailangang masusing suriin.
“We will evaluate first the source of information, which in this case are the 18 alleged Marine personnel who appeared at a press conference last Tuesday. Second is the reliability or credibility of the information itself, meaning the content of their affidavit,” ani Lacson, na siya ring chairman ng Blue Ribbon Committee.
Nitong Miyerkules, naghain si Sen. Ma. Imelda Josefa Remedios “Imee” Marcos ng Senate Resolution 317 na humihiling ng isang imbestigasyon in aid of legislation kaugnay ng umano’y money delivery scheme na kinasasangkutan ng mga dating militar. Inirefer ang resolusyon sa Blue Ribbon Committee na pinamumunuan ni Lacson.
Binanggit sa resolusyon ang press conference noong Pebrero 24 kung saan 18 umano’y dating Marines ang nagsabing naghatid sila ng bilyun-bilyong pisong cash sa mga bahay ng ilang opisyal, kabilang sina Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at dating Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Si Atty. Levito Baligod, na nagharap sa mga umano’y dating Marines, ay naghayag din na sina Co at dating Senador Antonio Trillanes IV umano ang nagpondo sa hotel accommodations at iba pang gastusin ng mga imbestigador mula sa International Criminal Court (ICC) habang nasa Pilipinas ang mga ito.
Sinabi ni Lacson na sumulat na siya sa Philippine Navy at Philippine Army upang magsagawa ng record check at background investigation sa 18 umano’y dating Marines, kasunod ng mga paunang ulat na ilan sa kanila ay dishonorably discharged at ang iba ay hindi naman naging miyembro ng Philippine Navy.
Kinuwestiyon din niya ang sinasabing P805 bilyong halaga na diumano’y naihatid nang cash. Ayon sa kanya, ang halagang ito ay katumbas ng mahigit 70 porsiyento ng P1.13 trilyong inilaan para sa flood control projects mula 2023 hanggang 2025.
Aniya, ang natitirang P325 bilyon mula sa kabuuang P1.13 trilyong pondo para sa flood control ay tila hindi maipagkakasundo sa mga kickback na inamin nang naipadaloy at natanggap ng mga personalidad tulad nina dating Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional director Roberto Bernardo at district engineer Henry Alcantara — lalo na kung isasaalang-alang pa ang aktuwal na gastos sa pagpapatupad ng mga flood control project sa loob ng tatlong taon.
“The numbers just don’t add up,” diin ni Lacson.
Tinukoy rin ni Lacson ang malaking hamon ng pagbiyahe ng ganoong kalaking halaga ng pera. Aniya, aabutin ng hindi bababa sa 13,416 malalaking maleta na may kapasidad na P50 milyon hanggang P70 milyon bawat isa upang maipaloob ang P805 bilyon.
“It’s mind-boggling. When we talk about large suitcases containing P50 to P70 million each, and we consider P805 billion, at least 13,400 large suitcases would be required — not counting smaller ones,” aniya.
Kinuwestiyon din ni Lacson ang timing ng press conference ng mga umano’y dating Marines — ginanap ito bisperas ng ika-40 anibersaryo ng EDSA People Power Revolution kung kailan may mga nakatakdang kilos-protesta laban sa katiwalian, at kasabay ng confirmation of charges hearings ng ICC kaugnay ng war on drugs ng administrasyong Duterte.
Napansin din niya na ginanap ang press conference sa Club Filipino, isang kilalang lugar na naging mahalagang bahagi ng mga pangyayaring humantong sa EDSA-1 noong 1986.
“Ang pino-project doon, napaka-corrupt ng ICC. Nilagyan ng $2M allegedly through former Sen. Trillanes,” ani Lacson.
“Sa akin, mukhang hindi lang may political color, kundi may destabilization aspect pa,” dagdag niya.
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