Palace mum on Maceda exposé

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang refused to comment about a Cabinet official who was allegedly berated by President Aquino for receiving a P25-million fee from a foreign investor.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said yesterday that he was not aware of such information.

In his column “Search For Truth” in The STAR, former senator Ernesto Maceda said that the President ordered the Cabinet official to return the money by manager’s check within 48 hours or he would be fired.

“He (Cabinet official) returned the money,” Maceda wrote.

Other officials also refused to comment about the matter while some said it could be an “intrigue” since, knowing Aquino, he would fire any Cabinet official caught accepting money from investors.