First Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos has chosen to disregard a “letter of sentiment” filed before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) that calls for an investigation into her supposed links with former Special Envoy to China for Trade Maynard Ngu, who has been implicated in alleged irregularities involving flood control projects.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro confirmed that the First Lady will not act on the letter filed by private citizen John Santander, describing his allegations as “hearsay.”
“Ang unang-una, ang sabi po ng First Lady ay hindi po niya ito bibigyan ng anumang pansin dahil ito ay hearsay evidence. Alam po natin na ang First Lady ay abogado rin,” Castro said during a press briefing.
Castro clarified that the First Lady made no comment regarding her relationship with Ngu but emphasized that the accusations lack basis and evidence.
The “letter of sentiment,” submitted by Santander on Tuesday, urged the ICI to investigate alleged benefits the First Lady may have received from Ngu and questioned why Ngu had not yet been summoned in the ongoing probe into the flood control controversy.
In response, Castro likened Santander to a “nuisance candidate” and dismissed his claims as frivolous.
“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,” she remarked. “Alam naman natin na ang mandato ng ICI ay mag-imbestiga ng mga maanomalyang flood control projects at mga infrastructure.”
The Palace official further questioned Santander’s credibility, suggesting that his claims appeared to be part of an effort to malign the First Lady.
“Ito po ba ay isang fishing expedition lamang para siraan ang Unang Ginang?” Castro said, adding that even the attachments in Santander’s letter failed to establish any direct link between Araneta-Marcos and the alleged anomalies.
