Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Monday raised questions concerning the logic and “basic mathematics” behind the claims of 18 former military men linked to a P805-billion cash delivery scheme, before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee can convene a hearing on the matter.
In a privilege speech, Lacson said this is not meant to belittle the testimonies of the 18, but to ensure that the credibility and reliability of the information sources and the information itself “adhere to rational and logical standards of believability.”
“To be clear, while every imputation of a crime warrants our attention, none deserves our blind deference. In the same manner that everyone has a right to be heard, it is not a license to mislead. Hence, while I reserve judgment on the merits of the testimonies, I am duty-bound to raise questions of logic and – at the very least – basic mathematics,” he said.
“Siguradong bibigyang-kulay na naman ng mga trolls ang mga tanong na ito. Pero isipin na lang natin: kung magagamit ang mga nasabing alegasyon bilang instrumento ng propaganda o anumang motibo, hindi ba dapat ay logical at mathematically possible man lamang ang mga akusasyon (I am sure trolls will throw shade on these questions. But we must think: if the allegations are used as instruments of propaganda, shouldn’t they at least be logical and mathematically possible)?” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson, Nagtanong sa ‘Logic and Basic Math’ ng mga Pahayag sa Cash Delivery ng 18 Ex-‘Marines’
Lacson cited the “logistical nightmare” in moving 805 metric tons in paper bills – not yet counting another 53.6 metric tons of large empty suitcases to accommodate the amount; as well as the time needed to process the money before delivering it to the supposed recipients.
He said unloading, counting, repacking, loading, and delivering the money would take five and a half years or until mid-2028 if this started in 2023; or until mid-2027 if this started in the second half of 2022 when then Rep. Elizaldy Co took over the chairmanship of the HOR appropriations committee.
On the other hand, moving this much wealth at P500 million per day would require 1,610 deliveries to and from ex-Cong. Co’s residence – and need 4.4 years to complete the deliveries.
Lacson asked as well how much in kickbacks was left for Co. “Zero? Was he just a messenger?” he said.
Meanwhile, Lacson also noted that the P805 billion worth of paper bills supposedly encashed from our bank reserves over the years would represent a huge chunk of the P2.7 trillion total physical cash in the Philippines in 2024, citing figures from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
“That would mean that P400 billion or half of the P805 billion out of the P2.7 trillion pesos of physical cash of 114 million Filipinos passed through a single individual, equivalent to around 15% of the total physical cash, both in circulation and those kept in all the bank vaults,” he said.
“I raise these questions to ensure that the testimonies withstand established facts and logic before we even invite them to testify before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. Pray tell Mr. President, if their statements appear to be demonstrably false and physically impossible to accomplish, wouldn’t convening a hearing effectively validate and dignify disinformation?” he added.
*****
Lacson, Nagtanong sa ‘Logic and Basic Math’ ng mga Pahayag sa Cash Delivery ng 18 Ex-‘Marines’
Nagpahayag ng mga tanong si Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Lunes kaugnay ng lohika at “basic mathematics” sa likod ng mga pahayag ng 18 dating miyembro ng militar na iniuugnay sa umano’y P805-bilyong cash delivery scheme, bago pa makapagpatawag ng pagdinig ang Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hinggil sa usapin.
Sa isang privilege speech, sinabi ni Lacson na hindi layunin nito na maliitin ang testimonya ng 18, kundi tiyakin na ang kredibilidad at pagiging maaasahan ng mga pinanggagalingan ng impormasyon at ng mismong impormasyon ay “adhere to rational and logical standards of believability.”
“To be clear, while every imputation of a crime warrants our attention, none deserves our blind deference. In the same manner that everyone has a right to be heard, it is not a license to mislead. Hence, while I reserve judgment on the merits of the testimonies, I am duty-bound to raise questions of logic and – at the very least – basic mathematics,” aniya.
“Siguradong bibigyang-kulay na naman ng mga trolls ang mga tanong na ito. Pero isipin na lang natin: kung magagamit ang mga nasabing alegasyon bilang instrumento ng propaganda o anumang motibo, hindi ba dapat ay logical at mathematically possible man lamang ang mga akusasyon?” dagdag niya.
Binanggit ni Lacson ang isang “logistical nightmare” sa paggalaw ng 805 metric tons na papel na salapi—hindi pa kabilang dito ang karagdagang 53.6 metric tons ng malalaking bakanteng maleta na kakailanganin upang mailagay ang nasabing halaga; gayundin ang oras na gugugulin sa pagproseso ng pera bago ito maihatid sa mga sinasabing tatanggap.
Aniya, ang pagbababa, pagbibilang, muling pag-iimpake, pagkakarga, at paghahatid ng pera ay aabutin ng lima’t kalahating taon o hanggang kalagitnaan ng 2028 kung nagsimula ito noong 2023; o hanggang kalagitnaan ng 2027 kung nagsimula noong ikalawang kalahati ng 2022 nang maupo si dating Rep. Elizaldy Co bilang chairman ng House of Representatives appropriations committee.
Sa kabilang banda, ang paglipat ng ganitong kalaking halaga sa bilis na P500 milyon kada araw ay mangangailangan ng 1,610 delivery sa – at mula sa – tirahan ni Co, at aabutin ng 4.4 taon upang makumpleto.
Tinanong din ni Lacson kung magkano ang natira bilang kickback para kay Co. “Zero? Was he just a messenger?” aniya.
Samantala, binigyang-diin din ni Lacson na ang P805 bilyong halaga ng papel na salaping umano’y na-encash mula sa reserba ng mga bangko sa paglipas ng mga taon ay kumakatawan sa malaking bahagi ng kabuuang P2.7 trilyong pisikal na salapi sa Pilipinas noong 2024, batay sa datos ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
“That would mean that P400 billion or half of the P805 billion out of the P2.7 trillion pesos of physical cash of 114 million Filipinos passed through a single individual, equivalent to around 15% of the total physical cash, both in circulation and those kept in all the bank vaults,” aniya.
“I raise these questions to ensure that the testimonies withstand established facts and logic before we even invite them to testify before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. Pray tell Mr. President, if their statements appear to be demonstrably false and physically impossible to accomplish, wouldn’t convening a hearing effectively validate and dignify disinformation?” dagdag niya.
*****