ILIGAN City ― "There's the elephant in the room and this has not been addressed by the previous administrations." Thus said Finance Sec. Benjamin Diokno in a recent briefing to media.

What elephant is he talking about? I asked silently. And what is its color? Black? Brown? Or white?

And how must it be addressed? Like, "The address is all over the Philippines, from Aparri to Jolo."

Now, I'm only talking in jest. Although this really is no laughing matter. A serious matter of course. Because Diokno knows where he's talking from. He's talking about the Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP). And their contribution to this country. Or the lack of it. In terms of contributions for their retirement pensions. Which are large. Taken from the country's budget. Even without them being deducted some amount from their salaries. And yet, …and yet, these are taken from the nation's annual budget. Because of this, this country might be in danger of financial collapse.

Ha? Collapse? That's a rather heavy word. Other workers, the other state workers are being deducted as contributions for their pensions. Or the employees from the private sector.

We're talking of the GSIS or the SSS. Now, we know what that means--Government Service Insurance System and the Social Security System.

Diokno might be in "advance thinking" mode. For he too was the Chief of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas not very long ago. And he is taking into account what has happened recently to the Silicon Valley Bank. of Santa Monica California, USA. Which got bankrupt. And now, this is Credit Suisse of Switzerland. Which is being: "devoured" by another bank too also from that area, the UBS or Union Bank of Switzerland. To avert a financial crisis not only in that part of the world but globally. As in, including this poor country of ours, the Philippines.

I talked to Joseph, two days ago, about this "elephant" being said by Diokno which concerns the MUPs. And he says that it is a "trending" story. Of course, they don't like it. Joseph is a police officer from Agusan Sur who came to this city with his family during the holidays. White elephant to note means something that is "very expensive."

Well, of course, lawyer Juan Ponce Enrile didn't like it either. "Explosive!" He had said thus, as related by Mike, my nerdy friend. The MUPs, Enrile, PBBM's chief legal counsel, at 99, says that MUPs, unlike other government employees, "put their lives on the line." Meaning it is not right for the government to decrease their salaries by deducting the premiums for their pensions. My other friends and acquaintances though say that this government must go after "the corrupt". But is it easy to identify them? Fast?

Diokno says this might be done, "slowly" even if it has to pass through Congress too. And PBBM is "in favor" of this move too. And he has "control" over both houses.

I see this as he doesn't merely meaning this trending "elephant" to be just going around in circles "trying to be free" as some song lyrics put it. It has to stop. So that the financial system of this country won't collapse.

I texted this matter to a lawyer, who also discussed on air the "disparity" between the pensions received by GSIS men (and that includes women too, hahaha) and the SSS men. And he answered: "What? We might collapse. Like Sri Lanka?" I could imagine his head going from right to left and left to right.

Diokno might be inviting the ire of the MUPs. Yet, maybe he sees it as like the benefits of surgery--hurt some body parts for the benefit of the whole body itself! That is if the body is really ailing. But is the financial aspect of this country really ailing? And what about the loans, and more loans and more loans this country is servicing?

There's some sense in what Diokno is saying, about this trending "elephant," don't you think so? And yet…and yet…there's plenty of arguing to be done. And paperwork too. And I remember the sign on a comfort room that says: "Remember, the job ain't complete until the paperwork is done! " Along with the picture of some tissue paper beside the sign…

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