Mariing itinanggi ng negosyanteng si Glenda Dela Cruz ang mga alegasyong nag-uugnay sa kaniya kay dating Ako-Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, matapos lumabas ang mga social media posts tungkol sa kaniyang Europe trip kamakailan.
Kontrobersiyal ang dating mambabatas dahil sa mga alegasyon patungkol sa kickback na natatanggap sa national budget, na nagpakawala rin ng mga pasabog laban kina Pangulong Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. at Leyte 1st District Representative at dating House Speaker Martin Romualdez na umano'y nagmanipula nito.
Sa kasalukuyan, hindi pa humaharap sa alinmang pagdinig si Co dahil nasa ibang bansa siya. Batay sa mga ulat, ang dating mambabatas ay nagtatago sa bansang Portugal.
Sa isang opisyal na pahayag, iginiit ni Dela Cruz na walang katotohanan ang mga paratang na siya ay konektado kay Co, lalo na sa mga isyung may kinalaman sa money laundering at iba pang kontrobersiya.
“Pumunta lang ng Lisbon, Portugal, nagbayad ng ₱111 milyon na income tax, connected na kay Zaldy Co?” ani Dela Cruz. “Seriously people, may naniniwala?”
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"Favorite niyo talaga akong siraan ano?"
"Pumunta lang ng Lisbon, Portugal, nagbayad ng 111M Income Tax, connected na kay Zaldy Co?"
"Seriously people, may naniniwala?"
"Scammer, Money Launderer, ngayon naman, connected kay Zaldy Co., anong next?"
"Hindi ba pwedeng may PINOY na pwedeng MAGSIKAP at UMASENSO?"
"Lumaban naman kayo ng patas," aniya pa.
Photo courtesy: Screenshot from Glenda Dela Cruz/FB
Ayon sa negosyante, ang kaniyang pagbiyahe sa Lisbon, Portugal ay personal at pribadong lakad na aniya’y bunga ng kaniyang pinaghirapan sa negosyo.
Binigyang-diin din niyang ang kaniyang mga buwis ay maayos na nababayaran at dokumentado.
Samantala, mariin namang kinondena ni Dela Cruz ang ulat sa kaniya ng isang social media page.
Mababasa sa opisyal na pahayag, published as is, "We have become aware of the highly malicious and defamatory posts published by the Facebook page Philippine Morning News, which falsely and recklessly links our founder, Miss Glenda Dela Cruz, to fugitive suspect Zaldy Co — going so far as to baselessly theorize that she serves as his alleged "money launderer" or 'taga-laba.'"
"We categorically, completely, and vehemently deny these allegations and speculations."
"Miss Glenda has absolutely no connection whatsoever to Zaldy Co, to any flood control scandal, or to any illegal financial activity of any kind."
"What Philippine Morning News has done is take publicly available information — Miss Glenda's Europe trip, her proud declaration of her billionaire status, and her tax payments — and weaponized these legitimate achievements to spin a fabricated, irresponsible, and criminally defamatory narrative."
"Let us be very clear about what these posts actually are:
"They are not journalism. They are not responsible reporting. They are fake news. They are cyber libel. They are an attack on the reputation of a hardworking Filipina entrepreneur."
"The Europe trip Miss Glenda took was a personal trip — her own, well-earned, and fully funded by the fruits of her years of sacrifice and hard work. Her wealth is real, legitimate, and documented. Her taxes are paid. Her business is clean."
"To take these facts and twist them into insinuations of money laundering is not just irresponsible — it is a crime," saad dito.
Photo courtesy: Glenda Dela Cruz/FB
