1,000 march to BSP to claim ‘hidden wealth’

MANILA, Philippines — Around 1,000 people trooped to the main office of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in Manila yesterday to claim what they described as P100 trillion in “hidden wealth” supposedly kept in the BSP.

Members of the Democratic and Republican Guardians Philippines – who came from Pangasinan, Antipolo City, Iloilo and other areas – marched to a gate of the BSP head office at the corner of Mabini and P. Ocampo streets at past 9 a.m., according to the Manila Police District.

A certain “Noble Prince” Gilbert Langres de Salvador led the group, calling on the BSP to release the P100 trillion, which he claimed was stored since the term of the late former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., according to radio reports.

The group’s members, who reportedly borrowed money to hold their “Claimant Holder Taker Celebration Day,” left the BSP headquarters at past 1 p.m. without the cash they wanted to claim.

The BSP, in a statement, said it does not directly release funds to the people but to the government.