Son says signature in P8.7-B right-of-way scam case not Eldon Cruz’s

Jiggy Cruz, nephew of former President Benigno Aquino III and son of Eldon Cruz, called his father's implication in the case of the alleged P8.7-billion road right-of-way (RROW) scam "absurd and ridiculous."

Jiggy added that his father's supposed signature on the letter shown by witness Roberto Catapang Jr. at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday was faked.

"To tag my father in this 'scam' is absurd and ridiculous. The letter shown today at the DOJ (Department of Justice) shows a fake signature. That's not his signature," Jiggy said.

"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. It's just totally ridiculous," he added.

Jiggy sent GMA News a copy of his father's passport to show the difference in the two signatures.

Cruz, husband of the eldest Aquino daughter Ballsy Aquino Cruz , was implicated in a scam involving compensation for rightful owners whose RROW were affected by the construction of a national highway in General Santos City.

The elder Cruz supposedly signed a January 12, 2011 letter urging Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson to endorse payment for claims with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Singson and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad were also implicated though the latter already denied any role in the scam. —NB/JST, GMA News