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Philanthropist mum on 'LeniLeaks'

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Loida Nicolas-Lewis, a billionaire philanthropist at the heart of the &quot;LeniLeaks&quot; controversy, insisted Tuesday that Filipino-Americans and overseas Filipino workers like her are duty-bound to air their sentiments on Philippine politics.In a statement, Lewis said remittances from overseas Filipino workers boost the Philippine economy while dual citizens retain their full rights as Filipinos.&quot;It is therefore wrong to disparage or demean comments from overseas Filipinos. We have a right, even a duty, to be involved in our homeland and participate as much as we can in its politics,&quot; she said.Controversy first hounded Lewis in December amid rumors that she was plotting to oust the President Rodrigo Duterte. She denied the accusation but admitted to calling for Duterte’s resignation after Vice President Leni Robredo was allegedly eased out of his Cabinet.<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZKSG7WMepPw?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0" width="560"></iframe></figure>Over the weekend, the LeniLeaks scandal made headlines after some bloggers claimed that Lewis and other Robredo supporters and aides were part of a &quot;restricted&quot; Yahoo group that allegedly drew plans to discredit and eventually unseat Duterte.Lewis did not address the issue in her statement but instead vowed that Filipino expatriates will continue to talk about developments in the Philippines.&quot;It is in that spirit of caring and brotherhood that we speak out on developments in the Philippines. We will continue to do so because if we did not, we would be untrue to who we are: Filipinos, like you,&quot; she said.The prominent lawyer-businesswoman also emphasized that many Fil-Am and OFW communities will show their patriotism by helping out fellow Filipinos.&quot;Many of us had to leave our country to earn a living for ourselves and our families back home, but we did not leave behind our rights as Filipinos. Nor did we leave behind our love for our fellow countrymen. We always try to give back to the motherland as we are able,&quot; Lewis said.&quot;As for me, I founded The Lewis College in my hometown of Sorsogon, which is offers low and affordable tuition for college in the Bicol Region, and about 25% of those in College are on scholarship,&quot; she added.Robredo has <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/09/17/robredo-denies-ties-to-lenileaks" target="_blank">denied</a> being part of any group seeking Duterte&#x27;s ouster and meeting with Lewis in the US recently.She said she last spoke with Lewis sometime during the campaign period, noting that the latter supported her candidacy because they were both from Bicol.Communications Secretary Martin Andanar earlier said National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and online forensics experts are already <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/09/17/palace-investigates-lenileaks" target="_blank">investigati</a>ng the &quot;LeniLeaks&quot; scandal.

MANILA - Loida Nicolas-Lewis, a billionaire philanthropist at the heart of the "LeniLeaks" controversy, insisted Tuesday that Filipino-Americans and overseas Filipino workers like her are duty-bound to air their sentiments on Philippine politics.

MANILA - Loida Nicolas-Lewis, a billionaire philanthropist at the heart of the "LeniLeaks" controversy, insisted Tuesday that Filipino-Americans and overseas Filipino workers like her are duty-bound to air their sentiments on Philippine politics.