By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
On the heels of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure’s (ICI) receipt of a letter of sentiment from a private citizen on Tuesday, the Palace was quick to dismiss the contents of this complaint addressed to ICI Chairperson Andres Reyes.
The letter of sentiment contains leads allegedly linking First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos to business tycoon Maynard Ngu, with the latter being a “close friend” and a campaign contributor to former Senate President Francis Escudero, who was being linked among other personalities involved in the ‘ghost’ and anomalous flood control projects in the country.
At the Malacañang press briefing on Wednesday, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro raised questions seeking to determine the credibility of the claims raised by John Santander before the flood control probe body.
Castro asked, “Kung inyong makakahalubilong muli ang isang John Santander, maaari po ba niyong itanong sa kanya kung alam ba niya ang mandato ng ICI? Pangalawang tanong, alam po ba niya kung sino ang source ng kanyang mga sinasabi? Pangatlong tanong, siya po ba ay may personal knowledge sa kanyang mga sinasabi?”
She expounded further, “Dahil kung walang personal knowledge, ito ay magsisilbing hearsay evidence. Kung hearsay evidence, ito po ba dapat ay binibigyan pa ng pagtutuon at seryosong konsiderasyon? Ito po ba ay isang ‘fishing expedition’ lamang para siraan ang Unang Ginang?”
Mumbo jumbo
The Palace mouthpiece, moreover, emphasized that Santander’s letter of sentiment and other attachments submitted to the independent body were ‘baseless’ and lacked concrete evidence.
She assures, though, that the First Lady does not mind this recent development.
Apart from touting such as “hearsay evidence,” Castro clarified that the citizenry is encouraged to volunteer leads and information that may help in the ICI flood control probe but warned the public against submitting evidence intended to lead a “fishing expedition” instead of unraveling the truth behind this pressing national issue.
Castro concluded in her remarks, “Puwede po nating i-encourage kapag sila ay kumpleto ng ebidensya. Kung mayroong ebidensya, at masasabi nating verified ‘yong kanilang mga dokumento, at sila’y may personal knowledge, dapat lamang po nilang dalhin ito sa ICI.”
She cautioned against nuisances, “‘Yon ang dapat malaman ng mga tao, ng mga kababayan natin—hindi dapat gumawa lamang ng letter at sabihing imbestigahan ito, dahil marami na po mga issues na iniimbestigahan ng ICI—’wag na po sila magdagdag kung ang balak po nila ay isang ‘fishing expedition.’”
Maynard Ngu, the Chief Executive Officer of Cosmic Technologies Inc., behind local smartphone brand Cherry Mobile, served as the former Special Envoy to China for Trade, Investment, and Tourism and was cited by former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo as the one who funneled 20% of the P800 million, or about P160 million, in inserted projects, which was allegedly meant for Escudero.
av
