Imelda denies offering fortune to meet Obama

MANILA, Philippines - Former First Lady Imelda Marcos has denied lawyer Oliver Lozano’s claims that he is working to set up a meeting between her and US President Barack Obama.

Lozano said the meeting was to discuss the use of the Marcos fortune to prop up the global economy.

In a letter sent by her lawyers to The STAR, Marcos categorically denied Lozano’s statements, “which were basically made on his own volition and without (her) knowledge.”

“While Lozano is a valued supporter of the Marcos family, he has not been engaged to represent Mrs. Marcos or the family on any case nor for special concerns… Mrs. Marcos has not been in contact with him in a number of years,” said lawyers Charlito Martin Mendoza, Efren Vincent Dizon and Al-Shwaid Ismael of the Mendoza Dizon Purugganan & Partners Law Offices.

They said Marcos also denied Lozano’s claim that she invited President Arroyo, US First Lady Michelle Obama and US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham-Clinton as guests of honor at her 80th birthday party at the Manila Hotel on July 2.

“There is yet no birthday party planned at this time,” Marcos’ lawyers said.