Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos attends the turn over of 28 Bagong Pilipinas Mobile Clinic for the provinces in Region IX, X, XI, XII, XIII and BARMM during a ceremony at Manila North Harbor Point in Tondo, Manila on September 20, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761114477925cropped-Screenshot 2025-10-22 at 2.26.32 PM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos attends the turn over of 28 Bagong Pilipinas Mobile Clinic for the provinces in Region IX, X, XI, XII, XIII and BARMM during a ceremony at Manila North Harbor Point in Tondo, Manila on September 20, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p>MANILA – The private citizen who recently urged the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos’ alleged links to anomalous flood control projects only sought to discredit her, Malacañang said Wednesday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/21/ici-ready-to-invite-personalities-if-there-is-reliable-competent-basis-1751?fbclid=IwY2xjawNlWiFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE5dDFmam1vcjZGdkk0N3hTAR6R8-bbxO-goyAjh-82cJU3Owwo9M0Xcr9EXzu6Tcb8bUx0eNx9tABu5UtmjQ_aem_arJItRzZhp-C0_xJaPjXjg">ICI ready to invite personalities if there is &#x27;reliable, competent basis&#x27;</a></div><p>John Santander has asked the ICI to include in its investigation the possible link between Maynard Ngu, the alleged bagman of Sen. Francis Escudero, and the First Lady.</p><p>Escudero earlier denied the allegation.</p><p>Palace Press Officer Claire Castro noted that based on the private citizen’s letter to the ICI, he does not have any knowledge about the commission’s mandate.</p><p>He hasn’t also provided solid leads to the commission.</p><p>“Sa nabasa natin at alam kong nabasa ninyo rin po ang letter of sentiment, wala po tayong makitang anuman na allegation patungkol sa maanomalyang flood control projects na mag-uugnay sa Unang Ginang, kay First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos,” Castro told Palace reporters.</p><p>“Alam ba niya kung sino ang source ng kaniyang mga sinasabi? Pangatlong tanong: Siya ba’y may personal knowledge sa kaniyang mga sinasabi? Dahil kung walang personal knowledge, ito ay magsisilbing hearsay evidence,” she added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;PARANG NUISANCE CANDIDATE&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>If this is hearsay evidence, the Palace official said his letter should not be given much weight.</p><p>Castro added that this matter is in the hands of the commission.</p><p>“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.</p><p>Asked about what the First Lady thought about the allegations, Castro said the President’s wife “would not give any attention to this because it is only hearsay evidence.”</p><p>“Alam natin na ang First Lady ay abugado din,” she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NGU OUT</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>In March 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. appointed Ngu as his special envoy to China for trade, investment and tourism. </p><p>But Castro said Ngu’s appointment had already expired in August 2025.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/22/maynard-ngu-no-longer-marcos-special-envoy-to-china-palace-1349">Maynard Ngu no longer Marcos&#x27; special envoy to China: Palace</a></div><p>Sought for comment on the First Lady’s relationship with Ngu, Castro said: “Wala siyang binanggit sa atin patungkol diyan. Binanggit lang niya ang patungkol dito sa letter of sentiment.”</p><p>While the Palace encourages the public to provide leads to the ICI, the pieces of evidence must be complete.</p><p>This must also be directly related to irregular flood control projects and infrastructure that have verified pieces of evidence.</p><p>“Puwede natin i-encourage kapag sila ay kumpleto ang ebidensya, kung mayroong patutunguhan, vetted, pero kung ito ay paraan lamang para magkaroon ng fishing expedition, para ang ICI ang gumawa ng pag-iimbestiga sa mga akusasyong wala namang basehan, hindi yan ang mandato ng ICI,” she said.</p><p>ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka earlier said the commission would take the matter into consideration and would discuss their next move.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e2dd6LB8wgY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SM0U1MFh3KU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>“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,” Claire Castro said.</p>

“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,” Claire Castro said.

Palace on man seeking ICI probe vs Liza Marcos: 'Parang nuisance candidate'

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Palace on man seeking ICI probe vs Liza Marcos: 'Parang nuisance candidate'

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 22, 2025 02:37 PM PHT

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First Lady Liza Marcos

Independent Commission for Infrastructure

ICI

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