Operation Big Bird

"Operation Big Bird" was a plan by the Philippine government during President Corazon Aquino's time to get back about US$7.5 billion that President Ferdinand Marcos and his family had hidden in Swiss banks. The plan was made by Philippine banker Michael de Guzman soon after Marcos went into exile in the United States. At first, Operation Big Bird did not get any money. Two reports blamed different people. One report blamed Senator Jovito Salonga, Solicitor-General Sedfrey Ordoñez, and the Swiss bank lawyers. Salonga said that Ordoñez actually stopped the government from losing a large amount of money. Evidence shows that de Guzman worked honestly for the new government, but there may have been a double cross.