ICI request linking First Lady to flood control mess a ‘fishing expedition’ - Palace

Metro Manila, Philippines - Malacañang brushed off a “letter of sentiment” filed before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) that sought to investigate First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos’ alleged ties to former special envoy to China for trade Maynard Ngu, calling the complaint baseless and irrelevant to the ICI’s mandate.

In a Palace briefing on Wednesday, Oct. 22, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the letter submitted by a private citizen identified as John Santander has nothing to do with the ICI’s investigation into flood control projects.

Castro said the document contained no evidence of wrongdoing and described the complaint as “hearsay” and potentially a “fishing expedition.”

“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 said.

[Translation: He’s like a nuisance candidate, as if he was given money to buy vinegar and at the same time given a letter of sentiment to take to the ICI.]

She noted that the ICI’s mandate is to investigate irregularities in flood control and other infrastructure projects, and the letter contained no allegations connecting the First Lady to such issues.

“Wala po tayong makitang anuman na allegation patungkol sa maanomalyang flood control projects na mag-uugnay sa Unang Ginang,” Castro said.

[Translation: We do not see any allegation regarding anomalous flood control projects that could be linked to the First Lady.]

The Palace official also questioned the credibility of the complaint, saying there was no indication that the sender had personal knowledge of his claims.

Castro added that the First Lady will not respond to what she called hearsay accusations.

“Ang unang-unang sabi ng First Lady ay hindi niya ito bibigyan ng pansin dahil ito po ay hearsay evidence. Alam po natin na ang First Lady ay abogado din po,” she said.

[Translation: The first thing that the First Lady said was that she will not pay attention to it because it is hearsay evidence. We know that the First Lady is also a lawyer.]

She added that while citizens are welcome to submit information to the ICI to help with ongoing investigations into infrastructure corruption, such submissions must be credible and evidence-based not mere fishing expeditions.