OPINION
JP Fenix
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.'s Fingerprints All Over Crime Scene
IT WAS called “Operation Big Bird”, an elaborate move by the newly installed government of Corazon Aquino to recover the billion of dollars hidden away by the Marcos family in their secret swiss bank accounts.
The events of Oplan Big Bird are documented in Congress and court proceedings and local and international media reports. Further are noted in the Marcos chronicles put together by Charlie Avila who was tasked by the Cory government along with General Jose Almonte and banker Michael De Guzman. These details were finally consolidated by the House of Representatives' Committee on Public Accountability in mid-1989, under the Chairmanship of Cong. Victorico "Concoy" Chaves (2nd District, Misamis Oriental).
But to cut a long story short, in March 1986 – a few days after the February People Power Revolution which booted Ferdinand Marcos, his wife Imelda and his family (including son Bongbong) out of Malacañang and into Hawaii – banker Michael de Guzman was authorized by the new Cory government to undertake Oplan Big Bird. He would convince the Marcoses that the Swiss Banks were going to freeze their accounts and therefore will not have access to their money. De Guzman would convince the Marcoses that he was going to act as their agent in dealing with the Swiss Banks, move their money to his own bank accounts, then move them again to the new Marcos accounts.
The ruse was De Guzman would turn over the Marcos stash to the Cory government instead. A sting operation that would mean convincing the Marcoses to authorize him to do so through proper referrals and identity confirmations by the banks and other trustworthy sources. And after gaining all those, De Guzman made his way to Hawaii to meet with the Marcoses.
And this is where it gets interesting: the Swiss banks will be moving the Marcos money to various financial institutions to safeguard the deposits and avoid a massive withdrawal, De Guzman was informed by his contacts. Thus De Guzman went to Hawaii to meet with the Marcoses to get a power of attorney to withdraw the money in their behalf before the banks close in on the accounts. His main contact was Col. Irwin Ver, former Commanding Officer of the Presidential Security Group, and son of General Fabian Ver.
On March 18, 1986 De Guzman arrived in Honolulu and met Col. Ver and Gen.Ver who subsequently arranged a meeting with the Marcoses at their temporary lodging in Hickam Air Force Base.
Ferdinand, Imelda and Bongbong were in attendance.
De Guzman told them that the Swiss banks will make a move on their account. Marcos wanted to confirm this information and sent Bongbong and De Guzman around 10:00 pm to Honolulu International Airport to call Ernst Scheller, their personal banker in Credit Suisse, The off-base call was made to avoid possible wire taps or listening devices.
Bongbong and De Guzman returned to the Hickam house and Bongbong updated the family on the phone call. De Guzman received a note from Imelda stating "Palmy Foundation" and a plastic bag containing traveler's cheques worth US$300,000.00.
Imelda produced a Power of Attorney and ordered Bongbong to hand this to De Guzman back at the hotel. Bongbong then oriented De Guzman on their Credit Suisse contact Scheller for him to talk to when he makes his way to Switzerland for the fund transfers.
This single passage in Philippine history shows that Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. is a liar and a cheat. He was a full adult at that time – not a clueless child – and had been a government official and a commissioned military officer under his father's decades long government.
Bongbong Marcos cannot escape the truth,
Bongbong's fingerprints are all over the crime scene.
Bongbong's efforts to revise history cannot hide the facts. He was part and parcel of the corruption of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos that stole billions of dollars from hardworking Filipinos. Billions of dollars that, until today, he and his family are hiding and even using to claw their way back into power.
The events of Oplan Big Bird are documented in Congress and court proceedings and local and international media reports. Further are noted in the Marcos chronicles put together by Charlie Avila who was tasked by the Cory government along with General Jose Almonte and banker Michael De Guzman. These details were finally consolidated by the House of Representatives' Committee on Public Accountability in mid-1989, under the Chairmanship of Cong. Victorico "Concoy" Chaves (2nd District, Misamis Oriental).
But to cut a long story short, in March 1986 – a few days after the February People Power Revolution which booted Ferdinand Marcos, his wife Imelda and his family (including son Bongbong) out of Malacañang and into Hawaii – banker Michael de Guzman was authorized by the new Cory government to undertake Oplan Big Bird. He would convince the Marcoses that the Swiss Banks were going to freeze their accounts and therefore will not have access to their money. De Guzman would convince the Marcoses that he was going to act as their agent in dealing with the Swiss Banks, move their money to his own bank accounts, then move them again to the new Marcos accounts.
The ruse was De Guzman would turn over the Marcos stash to the Cory government instead. A sting operation that would mean convincing the Marcoses to authorize him to do so through proper referrals and identity confirmations by the banks and other trustworthy sources. And after gaining all those, De Guzman made his way to Hawaii to meet with the Marcoses.
And this is where it gets interesting: the Swiss banks will be moving the Marcos money to various financial institutions to safeguard the deposits and avoid a massive withdrawal, De Guzman was informed by his contacts. Thus De Guzman went to Hawaii to meet with the Marcoses to get a power of attorney to withdraw the money in their behalf before the banks close in on the accounts. His main contact was Col. Irwin Ver, former Commanding Officer of the Presidential Security Group, and son of General Fabian Ver.
On March 18, 1986 De Guzman arrived in Honolulu and met Col. Ver and Gen.Ver who subsequently arranged a meeting with the Marcoses at their temporary lodging in Hickam Air Force Base.
Ferdinand, Imelda and Bongbong were in attendance.
De Guzman told them that the Swiss banks will make a move on their account. Marcos wanted to confirm this information and sent Bongbong and De Guzman around 10:00 pm to Honolulu International Airport to call Ernst Scheller, their personal banker in Credit Suisse, The off-base call was made to avoid possible wire taps or listening devices.
Bongbong and De Guzman returned to the Hickam house and Bongbong updated the family on the phone call. De Guzman received a note from Imelda stating "Palmy Foundation" and a plastic bag containing traveler's cheques worth US$300,000.00.
Imelda produced a Power of Attorney and ordered Bongbong to hand this to De Guzman back at the hotel. Bongbong then oriented De Guzman on their Credit Suisse contact Scheller for him to talk to when he makes his way to Switzerland for the fund transfers.
This single passage in Philippine history shows that Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. is a liar and a cheat. He was a full adult at that time – not a clueless child – and had been a government official and a commissioned military officer under his father's decades long government.
Bongbong Marcos cannot escape the truth,
Bongbong's fingerprints are all over the crime scene.
Bongbong's efforts to revise history cannot hide the facts. He was part and parcel of the corruption of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos that stole billions of dollars from hardworking Filipinos. Billions of dollars that, until today, he and his family are hiding and even using to claw their way back into power.
May 3, 2022
