The recantation by some of the 18 “Maleta Boys” of their claims about cash deliveries in suitcases to certain personalities raises even more questions, but authorities should also track down and hold accountable those behind the confusion they have created, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday.
Lacson said the “Maleta Boys” have made so many flip-flopping statements in various fora and venues that the public no longer knows which of their claims to believe.
“First question that needs to be answered is – are these four part or outside of the eight reported earlier to have submitted their sworn statements to the Ombudsman which triggered the initiation of the preliminary investigation against former Speaker Martin Romualdez, et al?” he said.
“Sa dami kasi ng flip-flopping statements nila sa iba’t-ibang fora at venues, hindi na natin alam kung ano na ang totoo at hindi sa mga sinasabi nila at kung sino-sino sa kanila ang nagsasabi ng totoo at hindi (With the many flip-flopping statements they made in various fora and venues, we no longer know who among them is telling the truth, or which parts of their claims are true),” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson: Pag-Recant ng ‘Maleta Boys’ Nagdulot ng Marami Pang Tanong; Dapat Panagutin ang mga Nasa Likod ng Kalituhan
More importantly, Lacson said authorities must track down those behind the “Maleta Boys” and the confusion they have created in past months.
“Dapat ding tugisin at papanagutin sa batas ang mga nasa likod ng gulo at confusion na nilikha nila. I hope the authorities will track and make them answerable as well (The authorities must also track down and make accountable to the law those behind the ‘Maleta Boys’ and the confusion they created. I hope the authorities will track and make them answerable as well),” he said.
Earlier, Lacson had raised questions concerning the logic and basic mathematics behind the claims of the 18 “Maleta Boys” – former soldiers linked to a P805-billion cash delivery scheme.
He cited the logistical nightmare in moving 805 metric tons in paper bills – as well as 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.
“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 in a privilege speech last March 2.
Lacson said unloading, counting, repacking, loading, and delivering the money would take 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 House appropriations committee.
Also, he said moving this much wealth at P500 million per day would require 1,610 deliveries to and from ex-Cong. Co’s residence, adding that if there was zero kickback for Co, “(w)as he just a messenger?”
On the other hand, Lacson said the 18 may have been intended to be used in a destabilization attempt at the Senate last June 8, but any possible threat was preempted after then acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian ordered heightened security at the Senate.
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Lacson: Pag-Recant ng ‘Maleta Boys’ Nagdulot ng Marami Pang Tanong; Dapat Panagutin ang mga Nasa Likod ng Kalituhan
Ang pag-recant ng ilan sa 18 “Maleta Boys” sa kanilang mga alegasyon tungkol sa paghahatid ng pera gamit ang mga maleta sa ilang personalidad ay nagdulot ng mas marami pang tanong, ngunit dapat ding tukuyin at panagutin ng mga awtoridad ang mga nasa likod ng kalituhang kanilang nilikha, sinabi ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Biyernes.
Diin ni Lacson, napakarami nang pabago-bagong pahayag ang “Maleta Boys” sa iba’t ibang fora at venues kaya hindi na alam ng publiko kung alin sa kanilang mga alegasyon ang dapat paniwalaan.
“First question that needs to be answered is – are these four part or outside of the eight reported earlier to have submitted their sworn statements to the Ombudsman which triggered the initiation of the preliminary investigation against former Speaker Martin Romualdez, et al?” ani Lacson.
“Sa dami kasi ng flip-flopping statements nila sa iba’t-ibang fora at venues, hindi na natin alam kung ano na ang totoo at hindi sa mga sinasabi nila at kung sino-sino sa kanila ang nagsasabi ng totoo at hindi,” dagdag niya.
Higit sa lahat, iginiit ni Lacson na dapat tukuyin ng mga awtoridad ang mga nasa likod ng “Maleta Boys” at ng kalituhang kanilang nilikha nitong mga nakaraang buwan.
“Dapat ding tugisin at papanagutin sa batas ang mga nasa likod ng gulo at confusion na nilikha nila. I hope the authorities will track and make them answerable as well,” aniya.
Nauna nang kinuwestiyon ni Lacson ang lohika at basic mathematics sa likod ng mga alegasyon ng 18 “Maleta Boys”—mga dating sundalo na iniuugnay sa isang P805-bilyong cash delivery scheme.
Binanggit niya ang napakalaking hamon sa logistics ng paglilipat ng 805 metriko tonelada ng perang nasa papel na salapi—gayundin ang 53.6 metriko tonelada ng malalaking bakanteng maleta na paglalagyan ng ganoong halaga; bukod pa sa oras na kakailanganin upang maiproseso ang pera bago ito ihatid sa mga umano’y tatanggap.
“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 sa isang privilege speech noong Marso.
Sinabi ni Lacson na ang pagbababa, pagbibilang, muling pag-iimpake, pagkakarga at paghahatid ng pera ay aabutin hanggang kalagitnaan ng 2028 kung nagsimula ito noong 2023; o hanggang kalagitnaan ng 2027 kung nagsimula ito noong ikalawang bahagi ng 2022 nang pumalit noon si Rep. Elizaldy Co bilang chairman ng House appropriations committee.
Sinabi rin niya na ang paglilipat ng ganito kalaking halaga ng pera sa halagang P500 milyon bawat araw ay mangangailangan ng 1,610 paghahatid papunta at pabalik mula sa tirahan ni Co, at idinagdag na kung walang kickback si Co, “(w)as he just a messenger?”
Samantala, sinabi ni Lacson na maaaring nilayon ang 18 na gamitin sa isang tangkang destabilization sa Senado noong Hunyo 8, ngunit napigilan ang anumang posibleng banta matapos ipag-utos ng noo’y acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian ang pinaigting na seguridad sa Senado.
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