A few thousand people from all over Luzon showed up at the University of the Philippines campus here Saturday morning saying they were promised cash from a cooperative that allegedly had access to the wealth of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
The UPLB Baker Field was packed by people who came from neighboring provinces as well as Metro Manila, with virtually every person clutching a booklet featuring Marcos’ face.
A peek into the booklet revealed that it discusses “The Life and Achievements of Ferdinand E. Marcos.” The back bore the words “Bullion Buyer LTD.”
Notably, the gathering happened just two days after the 45th anniversary of Marcos’ declaration of martial rule, when various militant and civil society groups marked a National Day of Protest to remember victims of abuses during the dictator’s repressive regime.
A source said some who turned up have been at the campus grounds as early as 3:50 a.m. and were told to bring the pamphlet to receive money.
A woman who came all the way from Malabon said she attended the event because they were told that Marcos’ money will be given to them.
“They said they’re giving away Marcos’ money,” she told ABS-CBN News in Filipino.
However, one coordinator from Cavite told ABS-CBN News that they were there for the “One Social Family Credit Cooperative.”
According to a tweet from the UPLB Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs, the cooperative had secured a permit for a general assembly at the lower grounds.
However, the assembly spilled all the way out to the Upper Field, the D.L. Umali Hall, and even the Carabao Park near the perimeter of the campus.
UPLB Campus Police refused to give a statement on the assembly, other than to confirm that they were informed it would take place. The UPLB Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, however, were caught off guard by the assembly, particularly of its magnitude.
Organizers of the assembly spoke at the Baker Field Grandstand, touting Marcos’ achievements. Later, one speaker promised that members of the cooperative would receive P10,000 per month.
Another speaker revealed that the money would come from the gold bars acquired by the late dictator, supposedly for services to the “royal family.”
In March 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission said Bullion Buyer Ltd is not a registered firm. The entity supposedly requires members to pay P30 in exchange for the P10,000 per month grant, as well as to recruit other beneficiaries.
A Sunstar Pangasinan report in February 2017 revealed that two women had already been arrested in Brgy. Anolid in the town of Mangaldan for recruiting three other people to join Bullion Buyer Ltd.
Story: ABS-CBN News; English translation added
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