MALACAÑANG dismissed allegations linking First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to government flood control projects, calling the claims baseless and their source “lacking in credibility.”
At a Palace press briefing, Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro questioned the motives of a certain John Santander, who submitted a “letter of sentiment” to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) urging an investigation into the supposed connection between the First Lady and businessman Maynard Ngu.
“Para siyang isang nuisance candidate, na parang binigyan ng pera para bumili ng suka at isinabay ang pagbibigay ng letter of sentiment para dalhin sa ICI,” Castro said.
She added that after reading the document, she found no allegation or evidence linking the First Lady to any irregularity in the projects. “Sa nabasa natin at alam kong nabasa rin ninyo ang letter of sentiment, wala po tayong makitang ano mang alegasyon patungkol sa maanomalyang flood control projects na mag-uugnay sa Unang Ginang,” she said.
Castro said the attachments submitted by Santander also failed to substantiate his claims, adding that it was unclear whether he even knew his own sources or had personal knowledge of his accusations.
According to Castro, Mrs. Marcos was informed about the complaint but chose not to respond, saying it was based merely on hearsay. “Ang sabi ng First Lady ay hindi niya ito bibigyan ng pansin dahil ito ay hearsay. Alam natin na ang First Lady ay abogado rin po,” Castro said.
