1,000 flock to BSP to claim trillions of pesos from 'gold hoard'

More than 1,000 people converged Wednesday at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in Manila City to claim a staggering P130 trillion for the Filipino people — money which the financial institution said it cannot give away.

According to Marisol Abdurahman's report Wednesday on 24 Oras, the amount is based on the present day value of gold that has been supposedly under the BSP's lock and key for many years.

The group's leader, Gilbert Langres, presented to GMA Integrated News a supposed document showing that wealth inside the central bank has "matured" and was ready to be claimed.

"Ito ang tinatawag na ang Bagong Lipunan, which is printed with a backup of gold amounting to more than P130 trillion intended for all Filipinos. Ang kayamanang nakatago dito sa Bangko Sentral ay fully matured na," said Langres.

(This is what we call the Bagong Lipunan, which is printed with a backup of gold amounting to more than P130 trillion intended for all Filipinos. The wealth hidden here in the BSP has reached its maturity.)

However, the BSP has long denied claims that it has been entrusted with gold for safekeeping, the 24 Oras report said.

From far and wide

Among those who trooped to the BSP was 72-year-old Adelaida Perez, who rented a van for P7,500 to travel from Nueva Ecija.

Why did she make the trip? Perez said, "Naghihirap na. Assistance na pang araw-araw na gastos," she said.

(We're poor. We need assistance for our daily needs.)

Another senior citizen in the crowd, 72-year-old Clarita Valdez, was seen resting on the gutter due to heat exhaustion.

"'Pag kami raw nagpunta dito at nakausap niya sa Central Bank, hindi kaming uuwi ng luhaan. Sa hirap nga ng hanapbuhay, gusto naming magkaroon kahit paano," she said.

(They told us that if we went here and that he could speak with the Central Bank, none of us would go empty handed. Life is tough, we just want something to make ends meet.)

One contingent was able to arrive from Cagayan Valley, after one of its members loaned P80,000 to rent a bus.

Only to the government

For its part, the BSP clarified that it does not directly provide funds to the public as it only remits funds to the government through dividends.

"Nais linawin ng BSP na hindi ito direktang nagbabahagi ng salapi sa taumbayan. Sa halip, ang BSP ay nagbibigay ng dibidendo sa pamahalaan upang maka-ambag sa mga programang makapag-aangat ng kabuhayan ng mga Pilipino," it said.

(The BSP wishes to clarify that it does not directly share funds to the public. Instead, the BSP gives out dividends to the government to contribute to programs that would elevate the lives of Filipinos.)

Under its mandate, the central bank is tasked to promote and maintain price stability, a strong financial system, and a safe and efficient payments and settlements system in the country.

Meanwhile, a BSP security official told GMA Integrated News that Langres' submission would be forwarded to the proper office.

No one was reported hurt or injured during the incident, which ended following discussions between attendees and the police.

"May mangilan-ngilan po na nawalan ng malay, nanghina dahil sa init," Manila Police District 9 Station Commander Nelson Cortez.

(Some of them fainted and felt weak due to the extreme heat.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News