The math doesn’t lie – and right now, the story of 18 ex-military men on supposedly delivering P805 billion in cash to certain individuals still doesn’t add up, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Monday.
A still-wary Lacson said that if all the details of the 18 ex-soldiers were true, those behind the cash delivery scheme would not have finished their deliveries until 2028 at the earliest.
“Even as we speak, I continue to fact-check the claims. It would be hard to call a hearing if these were lacking in believability,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino, in an interview on DZMM radio.
In Filipino: Lacson, Tinitimbang ang ‘Believability’ ng Kuwento ng mga Dating Sundalo sa Paghahatid ng Pera
Lacson noted the logistical nightmare in unloading P805 billion in cash from the banks or contractors, and counting, repacking and distributing it to the intended recipients.
Citing the computation of the late Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr. that P1 million weighs one kilo, he said the P805 billion would have weighed 805 metric tons. Add to this the weight of the lightest possible big maletas (suitcases) capable of containing an average of P60 million each at four kilos each – and one faces the task of transporting 858 metric tons.
On the other hand, Lacson said that assuming those involved in the cash delivery scheme can process P500 million a day working 24/7 – including unloading, counting, bundling and delivering the money – this would take five-and-a-half years or mid-2028, if they started in 2023.
“If they started in 2023, they would still be delivering the cash now,” he said.
As for former Rep. Elizaldy Co who supposedly ordered the distribution of the cash, Lacson questioned if Co had access to the entire P805 billion, since there are other personalities who admitted to receiving and facilitating kickbacks from ghost projects.
“Of the P805 billion that was supposedly delivered, how much was left for Co, zero? Was he just a messenger? So we’re talking here of trillions of pesos in kickbacks,” he said.
“It’s hard to mentally compute the figures involved. But P805 billion just for one person? As chairman of the House appropriations committee, Co has the power to make insertions but he has limited access to implementation,” he added.
‘Background check’
Lacson said he is still looking into the reason why many of the ex-military men were dishonorably discharged. He said this is important to him as a former member of the uniformed services, since dishonorable discharge follows due process.
“To be discharged dishonorably, there is due process to be followed. What kind of administrative cases did they face? Did it involve moral turpitude or grave misconduct? It is important to know so we can assess their credibility. We are assessing the credibility of the source and the credibility of the information,” he said.
“What I am saying is that for the majority in the Senate, if we start a hearing and end up citing the 18 in contempt, we would be painted as the villains for ‘harassing’ them. How do we deal with the 18 if they lie?” he added.
He also said it is important to find Mark Ticsay and Paul Estrada, who were mentioned as Co’s trusted assistants.
‘Joyride’
Lacson said he does not want the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to be dragged into a “joyride” especially if the assessment of their information turns out to be not worth a hearing.
“If we allow the 18 to appear, it may become a circus. It’s like inviting people to a joyride, especially if we give them a platform knowing that their stories do not add up at the outset – if they are lacking in believability or incredible. Why dignify them if that’s the case?” he said.
*****
Lacson, Tinitimbang ang ‘Believability’ ng Kuwento ng mga Dating Sundalo sa Paghahatid ng Pera
Hindi nagsisinungaling ang math — at sa ngayon, hindi pa rin nagtutugma ang kuwento ng 18 dating sundalo na umano’y naghatid ng P805 bilyon na cash sa ilang indibidwal, ayon kay Senate President Pro Tempore at Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Lunes.
Ani Lacson na nananatiling maingat at mapanuri, kung totoo ang lahat ng detalye ng salaysay ng 18 dating sundalo, aabutin umano hanggang kalagitnaan ng 2028 sa pinakamaaga bago matapos ang sinasabing paghahatid ng pera.
“Habang nag-uusap tayo ngayon, patuloy ang ginagawa nating pagfa-fact check. Kasi mahirap magtawag ng pagdinig kung lacking in believability ang sinasabi,” aniya sa panayam sa DZMM.
Binanggit ni Lacson ang “logistical nightmare” sa pagkuha ng P805 bilyon mula sa mga bangko o kontratista, pati na ang pagbibilang, pagre-repack, at pamamahagi nito sa mga tatanggap.
Ayon sa naging komputasyon ng yumaong Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr., ang P1 milyon ay tumitimbang ng isang kilo. Kung gayon, ang P805 bilyon ay katumbas ng 805 metriko tonelada. Idagdag pa rito ang bigat ng pinakamagaan na malalaking maleta na kayang maglaman ng tinatayang P60 milyon bawat isa—na may bigat na apat na kilo bawat maleta—maaabot ang kabuuang 858 metriko tonelada na kailangang ilipat at dalhin.
Sa kabilang banda, sinabi ni Lacson na kung ipagpapalagay na kayang iproseso ng mga sangkot ang P500 milyon bawat araw nang 24/7 — kabilang ang pagkuha, pagbibilang, pagbubuklod at paghahatid ng pera — aabutin ito ng lima at kalahating taon o hanggang kalagitnaan ng 2028 kung nagsimula noong 2023.
“E di hanggang ngayon nagde-deliver sila kung simula sila 2023,” aniya.
Tungkol naman kay dating Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co na umano’y nag-utos ng pamamahagi ng pera, kinuwestiyon ni Lacson kung may access ba si Co sa buong P805 bilyon, lalo’t may iba pang personalidad na umaming tumanggap at nagpadaloy ng kickback mula sa mga ghost project.
“Sa P805B na sinasabing delivered, ano ang natira kay Zaldy Co, zero? Messenger lang siya? So we’re talking here of trillions of pesos in kickbacks,” aniya.
“Doon pa lang mahirap ipaliwanag. Tayo pa lang mentally nagko-compute—papaniwalaan mo ba ito? Kung naging P80B lang ito mas believable. P805B sa isang tao lang? Ang kapangyarihan ng appropriations committee chairman ay nasa pagsisingit, pero sa implementation limited ang kanyang access,” dagdag niya.
‘Background check’
Sinabi ni Lacson na patuloy niyang sinusuri ang dahilan kung bakit maraming sa 18 dating sundalo ang na-dishonorably discharged. Bilang dating miyembro ng uniformed services, mahalaga ito sa kanya dahil ang dishonorable discharge ay dumaraan sa due process.
“Para ma-discharge dishonorably, may due process ‘yan. Anong klaseng administrative cases ang kinaharap nila? May kinalaman ba ito sa moral turpitude? Sa pag-abuso sa serbisyo? Grave misconduct? Importante malaman para ma-assess ang credibility ng source. Dalawang bagay ang tinitingnan natin—credibility ng source at credibility ng impormasyon,” aniya.
“Ang sinasabi ko sa mga kasamahan ko, lalo na sa majority, kapag sinimulan natin ito at mauwi lang tayo sa pag-cite ng contempt sa 18, lalabas pa tayong kontrabida na sinasabing inaapi sila. Paano kung magsisinungaling ang 18?” dagdag niya.
Sinabi rin ni Lacson na mahalagang mahanap sina Mark Ticsay at Paul Estrada, na binanggit bilang mga pinagkakatiwalaang tauhan umano ni Co.
‘Joyride’
Ayaw din ni Lacson na madamay ang Senate Blue Ribbon Committee sa isang “joyride,” lalo na kung sa pagsusuri pa lamang ay lumalabas nang hindi sapat ang kredibilidad ng mga alegasyon upang paglaanan ng pagdinig.
“Kasi 18 ito, kapag pina-appear natin doon baka maging circus. Parang nag-imbita tayo ng joyride. May sasakyan ka tapos may nag-hitch lang at nanggulo. Parang magiging kakatuwa naman kung gagawin nating platform ang Blue Ribbon Committee sa isang bagay na sa simula pa lang nakita na natin ang hindi nagkakatugma-tugma. Lacking in believability o incredible. Bakit tayo papatol kung ganoon?” aniya.
*****