Operation Teardrop - Part I

One of the most puzzling people I ever met lives in the Philippines ...

I independently confirmed that he is the son of a prominent general --- now deceased --- who was a close associate of Ferdinand Marcos during his dictatorship. He has inherited many of his father's 'businesses' in the Manila area and makes his rounds in a bulletproof Mercedes chauffered by an active officer of the police force.

I've ridden with him in the Mercedes, which is complete with a siren and blue lights in the grill. One night, I jokingly questioned his ability to do whatever he wanted on the roads, so he told his driver to run a red light and turn left in the process at a multi-lane intersection, in front of the police who were there. The driver did so and briefly sounded his siren in the process; the police first stared closely, then smiled and waved as we passed them.

This man was well educated in the USA and has many prominent friends due to his heritage. He can be quite charming and intelligent one moment, and then lapse into a childish contortion while giggling the next. He has some amazing stories, some of which I have been able to confirm, but others which I have researched and concluded that the details he provided are fictitious.

Ever since the end of World War II, rumors have abounded about the existence of a large cache of gold that was hoarded by General Yamashita of the Imperial Japanese Army as he swept through China and southeast Asia. Legend has it that he stashed it somewhere in the Philippines. Newspapers as respected as the International Herald Tribune have reported that the American government has since sent agents there in attempts to locate it, but to no avail.

I never asked about this gold when I was in the Philippines, but the late general's son felt compelled to give me a copy of a letter regarding it. Edited for intelligibility, here is Part One:

Operation Teardrop

"A few months before the start of the downfall and departure of President Ferdinand E. Marcos from the Philippines, the operation took place. Its codename is 'Teardrop.'

"The President knew that the United States government was really after the gold for their own treasury and blackmailed President Marcos for him to stay in power. But President Marcos, for the good of the Filipino peoples, scuttled the Gold and other assets. (He believed) the United States of America (would) get what it wanted by hook or by crook ... to keep their economy going. The United States of America started the manipulation of the downfall of President Marcos and replaced him with Mrs. Corazon Aquino ... Who (they thought would) get them what they want.

"Right after the failed negotiations with the United States of America for President Marcos to stay in power, he started to hide the wealth of the Philippines that is overseas (ie- gold bullion certificates, gold bullion bearer bonds, and etc). That is why there are a lot of papers that are not valid but really issued by the foreign banks. He also immediately issued an order to take 5000 metric tons of gold out of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (The Central Bank of the Philippines). This metal was already refined but not yet hallmarked for the open market. The metal was scuttled at sea. (Across the street from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is the General Headquarters of the Philippine Navy.)

"A few weeks before the Ramos and Enrile rebellion at Camp Aguinaldo, the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, President Marcos called me to Malacañang Palace. This was a great honor for me as an Ensign in the Philippine Navy. There, General Fabian Ver, in front of the President Marcos, told me of this situation. I was to meet a Mr. Eduardo Rosales and Dr. Luis Yulo Consing at the headquarters of the Philippine Navy at 1800 hours to give me the further orders. This was highly irregular.

"At 1800 hours, at the Navy Headquarters, a white Toyota Crown pulled up and an old man in his early to mid 60s came out from the rear passenger side. He had a mole on the right cheek and stood around 5’4” and introduced himself as Mr. Ed Rosales. He told me that he was going along with me and that I was in command of a cargo vessel, which was moored at the pier. Around 1810 hours, another car --- this time a brown Toyota Corona --- pulled up and an old man about the same age as Mr. Ed Rosales came out. He was wearing a wig as if he was bald. Immediately, Mr. Rosales went to him and introduced me to Mr. Luis Consing. Then Mr. Consing went to his car and the driver opened his trunk. He took out a hard briefcase. We went into a conference room and Mr. Consing pulled out a folder with three red stripes from his briefcase, doing it carefully so as no one would see what was inside of his briefcase. He handed me a folder and it contained our orders, a list of several sailors under my command, the coordinates, and was signed by President Marcos and General Ver. These papers had the words "TOP SECRET" stamped across the center in red ink. After reading the paper, Mr. Rosales went to the telephone and called the bank. The gates of the bank opened and 6x6 military trucks came out around 8 and 2 with Philippine Army Scout Rangers. He told me that these men were here to help load the ship."

(To be continued.)