Malacañang on Wednesday likened a private citizen’s letter urging an investigation into First Lady Liza Marcos to a nuisance candidacy, calling the claim baseless and hearsay.
At a Palace press briefing on October 22, Presidential Press Officer Claire Castro said the administration views the letter from John Santander. Santander on Tuesday asked the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to probe the First Lady’s alleged links to businessman Maynard Ngu.
The Palace dismissed this as unserious and lacking factual basis.
‘He is like a nuisance candidate, that he was just given money to buy vinegar and he just happened to give the letter of sentiment to the ICI,’ Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said at a press briefing on Wednesday, October 22, in Filipino.
Santander’s letter alleged ties between Marcos and Ngu, who has been accused of acting as an alleged “bagman” for Sen. Chiz Escudero, though no evidence or documentation was presented.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure, created to investigate alleged anomalies in flood control and public works projects, would review whether there are grounds to follow up on the claim.
Castro, however, stressed that Santander offered no technical allegations and cited no clear sources or personal knowledge, which renders his claims hearsay.
She added that the First Lady would not comment on the matter.