Lacson: Blue Ribbon ready to hear claims if ex-Marines amend affidavits

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said Friday that the blue ribbon committee remains open to investigating the claims of the 18 alleged former Marines should their statements be amended based on what really transpired in the alleged money delivery scheme. 

Lacson, chairman of the committee, said he is urging lawyer Levito Baligod to “fix” their affidavit, which alleged that suitcases of cash amounting to P805 billion were delivered to certain individuals on instructions of former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.

“May panawagan ako kay Atty. Levi Baligod, ayusin lang ninyo ‘yung affidavit, ilapit niyo sa makatotohanan at tatawag ako ng pagdinig. Hindi naman sarado ‘yung pintuan ng Blue Ribbon para dinggin sila. Pero ayusin lang nila para hindi maging circus,” Lacson said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. 

(I have a call for Atty. Levi Baligod, just fix the affidavit, bring it closer to the truth and I will call for a hearing. The Blue Ribbon is open to hear them. But they have to fix the claims so the hearing doesn’t become a circus.) 

To recall, Lacson gave a privilege speech, raising questions of “logic and mathematics” over the allegations of the 18 supposed ex-Philippine Marines members. 

He pointed out that moving P805 billion in paper cash—estimated to weigh around 805 metric tons—would pose a “logistical nightmare,” citing the time required to unload, count, repack, reload, and transport the money. He said completing such a task would take years even if those involved worked around the clock.

Lacson aired his concern as he admitted being criticized for not inviting the supposed ex-soldiers to testify in the legislative inquiry on the flood control scandal.

The senator said that if the figures were only lower, he would have already called for a hearing right away, with the “ex-Marines” invited. 

“Kung naging P80 billion lang ‘yun, wala nang tanong-tanong, tatawag ako ng pagdinig kasi makatotohanan. Maski exaggerated pa, sabihin natin, pero ‘wag namang P805 billion kasi parang nakakainsulto na sa katalinuhan ng mga Pilipino ‘yun eh,” he said. 

(If it was only P80 billion, there would be no more questions, I would call a hearing right away because it's more realistic. Even if it's a bit exaggerated, let's say, but let’s not use the P805 billion because that seems an insult to the intelligence of Filipinos.) 

Lacson also expressed belief that the accusers' figures may be intentionally bloated. 

“Hindi nag-isip, basta na lang humugot ng figure na napakalaki. Hindi man lang nagkuwenta. Basic math lang eh,” he said. 

(They didn't think about it; they just pulled out a figure that was so big. They didn't even do the math. It was just basic math.) 

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier issued subpoenas to former congressman Mike Defensor, Baligod, and the alleged former Marines. 

Those implicated in the alleged scheme also denied the allegations against them.—LDF, GMA Integrated News