Palace: Allegations vs first lady based on pure hearsay
Malacañang on Wednesday downplayed a private citizen’s request for the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate the alleged ties between first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and tech-billionaire Maynard Ngu, calling it a “fishing expedition” to tarnish her name.
Ngu, who officials said on Wednesday had ceased to be President Marcos’ special envoy to China for trade, investments and tourism in August, had been tagged as a conduit of kickbacks from flood control projects. He is the CEO of Cherry Mobile.
Palace press officer Claire Castro said the “letter of sentiment” from John Santander urging the ICI to investigate the first lady’s “close relationship” with Ngu was “pure hearsay.”
“He is like a nuisance candidate who was given cash to buy vinegar in a store and made a side-trip to the ICI to submit his letter,” she said.
No connection
Asked about the first lady’s reaction, Castro said: “The first lady said she would not give this any attention because it is hearsay evidence. We know that she is also a lawyer.”
Malacañang said it would defer to the ICI on the next steps it would take. “But from the letter and attachments, what we read showed no connection and presented no evidence indicating the first lady was involved in any anomalous flood control projects,” Castro said.
Santander, who identifies himself as a culture and peace advocate, claimed that Araneta-Marcos and Ngu have a “close relationship,’’ noting that they appeared together in public events, including a recent Cherry Mobile function, and a dinner with Sen. Francis Escudero and his wife, Heart Evangelista, at Cork Wine Bar in Taguig City, which is reportedly owned by Ngu.
Former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo accused Ngu of receiving P160 million in kickbacks on behalf of Escudero during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on flood control projects last month.
Term expired
After this, Ngu resigned as an independent director of the Gokongwei-led Altus Property Ventures Inc., an Ilocos Norte-based firm. The company is chaired by Faraday Go, brother of Frederick Go, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs.
According to Malacañang, Ngu’s term as special envoy expired and was not renewed in August, when the flood control mess gained traction. He was appointed to the post in March 2023.
Castro, a litigation lawyer by profession, wondered if Santander knows “the source of his allegations.” “Does he have personal knowledge about what he told the ICI? If he has no personal knowledge, then this will just serve as hearsay evidence,” she said.
“If it is, then should we give it attention and serious consideration? Or is this a fishing expedition meant to tarnish the reputation of the first lady?” she added.
After receiving Santander’s letter on Tuesday, ICI executive director Brian Keith Hosaka said it was too early to tell if Araneta-Marcos would be invited to its hearings since the commission has yet to review Santander’s letter. —WITH A REPORT FROM LUISA CABATO INQ
Despite dismissing Santander’s call for an investigation, Castro urged the public to submit to the ICI any leads or information on anomalous projects as long as these are backed by evidence.
“We can encourage it when they have complete evidence. If it has a clear direction and is vetted, then that’s fine; but not if it’s merely a way to conduct a fishing expedition,” she said.
According to Castro, this was not the case in Santander’s letter as it did not contain any “leads” related to flood control or infrastructure projects.
“People shouldn’t just write a letter and say that something should be investigated, because the ICI is already looking into many issues. They shouldn’t add more if their only intention is to conduct a fishing expedition,” she said. —WITH A REPORT FROM LUISA CABATO
