'PURE HEARSAY': Palace dismisses allegations against first lady

National

MALACAÑANG said claims linking First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to businessman Maynard Ngu are nothing but mere “fishing expedition.”

The controversy stemmed from a letter submitted by a certain John Santander to the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), urging the body to look into what he called the “close relationship” between Araneta-Marcos and Ngu, the chief executive of Cherry Mobile.

Santander claimed the two had been seen together at public events, including a corporate function and a dinner with Senator Francis Escudero and actress Heart Evangelista at a Taguig wine bar reportedly owned by Ngu.

Palace press officer Claire Castro, however, said the letter lacked any factual or legal basis.

“It’s pure hearsay,” she told reporters at a briefing. “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.”

Castro added that the First Lady “would not dignify” such claims with a response, emphasizing that as a lawyer, Araneta-Marcos recognizes the difference between evidence and speculation.

Ngu, who had served as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s special envoy to China for trade, investments, and tourism, stepped down from the post in August, according to Malacañang. Officials clarified that his term had simply expired and was not renewed amid growing scrutiny over alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

The tech executive’s name surfaced last month during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, where former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo accused him of receiving ₱160 million in kickbacks on behalf of Senator Escudero.

Following the allegations, Ngu resigned as an independent director of Altus Property Ventures Inc., a company under the Gokongwei Group and chaired by Faraday Go, brother of Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go.

In a report by Inquirer.net, Castro said Malacañang will defer to the ICI regarding the next steps but stressed that nothing in Santander’s letter links the First Lady to any irregular activity.

“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,” she said.

She also questioned Santander’s credibility and motives.

"Does he have personal knowledge of his allegations? If not, it is purely hearsay,” she said. “Should we give it serious attention, or is this simply a fishing expedition meant to tarnish the reputation of the First Lady?”

For now, the ICI has not confirmed whether Araneta-Marcos will be summoned. Executive director Brian Keith Hosaka said the commission is still reviewing Santander’s letter and that it is “too early to tell” if it warrants further action.(Xienderlyn Trinidad, USJ-R Comm Intern)