Aquino nephew: Charges vs dad fake news

MANILA, Philippines — Former president Benigno Aquino III’s nephew Jiggy Cruz produced two documents Monday night to prove that the evidence used against his father Eldon in connection with the P8.7-billion road right-of-way scam bore a different signature.

Jiggy sent media a copy of his father’s passport and another document to show the elder Cruz’s signature clearly differs with what was shown by alleged witness Roberto Catapang Jr., who was presented by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to bolster claims against those allegedly involved in the scam.

The letter, allegedly signed by Eldon and did not bear any name but only a signature, requested then Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Rogelio Singson to endorse the payment for claims with then Department of Budget and Management (DBM) secretary Florencio Abad, two of Aquino’s former Cabinet men named in the scam.

Abad has denied involvement in the scam that supposedly entailed the fabrication of fake titles in the name of nonexistent persons and then secure payment using them.

Abad  said the “accusation is baseless and therefore not true.”

“I and the (DBM) were never part of the negotiations for that transaction. The (DPWH) will be in the best position to shed light on the issue,” Abad said.

Singson declined to comment on the allegation, saying he has yet to read the charges.

Jiggy branded the move to implicate his father as “totally ridiculous.”

“That’s not his (Eldon’s) signature. It is not even remotely close to it. We live in a time of lies and fake news and I can’t believe it’s reached this point,” Jiggy said.