2 weeks ago
8
ILOILO CITY — Guimaras governor aspirant Margarita Cacho described the charges of swindling or estafa filed against her as "a clear political maneuvering" meant to derail her candidacy.
In a statement on Feb. 25, Cacho said her arrest on Feb. 11 was a "cunning strategy orchestrated by her rivals to ruin my name, taint my reputation, and deceive the public."
"There is no iota of truth on the allegations being thrown against me but a clear political maneuvering aimed at derailing my candidacy as governor of Guimaras," she said.
Cacho is running against Lucille Nava, the current representative of Guimaras. Nava is the wife of incumbent Gov. Rahman Nava, who is seeking a congressional seat in the upcoming midterm elections.
Cacho was nabbed in an entrapment operation led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group under the Office of the President, after allegedly promising a private individual a government project for a Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center and an emission testing center in exchange for P1 million.
Get the latest news
delivered to your inbox
Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters
By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
To deceive others, the suspect reportedly projected herself as having government connections and claimed to be related to first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
Her secretary, Cayetano Leal, was also apprehended during the operation. Both were released on bail shortly after their arrest.
Despite the controversy, Cacho remained defiant, accusing her political opponents of orchestrating a smear campaign through social media and mainstream news outlets.
"I was feasted on Facebook, radios, televisions, and in different media platforms which suggest a deliberate attempt to malign my reputation and undermine my bid for public office. Yet, I remain firm and stood the ground," she said.
