PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s personal money and funds from the Office of the President (OP) were used to pay the hospital bills of National Artist and superstar Nora Aunor, an official of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) confirmed yesterday.
PCO senior undersecretary for operations and strategic communications Ana Puod made the confirmation when asked about reports that the chief executive paid for hospital expenses of Aunor.
“‘Di lang ‘yung hospital bill ‘yan, pati ibang utang at ibang expenses daw galing sa personal na pera ni PBBM ‘yan,” Puod said in a message relayed by the PCO to reporters.
Reports about Aunor’s hospital bills broke out from television host Cristy Fermin program “Cristy Ferminute.”
One of the directors of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PSCO), Imelda Papin, told Fermin that she and the President had a discussion about who would settle Aunor’s hospital bill and other expenses.
“Nu’ng magkausap kami ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos ang sabi ko sa kanya, ‘President ako na po ang bahalang umayos ng hospital bill ni Nora (Aunor),” Fermin quoted Papin.
But Marcos supposedly told Papin: “Ay hindi! Hindi puwede, huwag! Sasagutin ko ‘yan. Ako ang sasagot diyan.”
The veteran actress died of acute respiratory failure on April 16, just a month before her 72nd birthday in May.
Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos visited Aunor’s wake at The Heritage Park in Taguig on April 21, or the day before the National Artist was laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani after a state funeral and hero’s burial. (Faith Argosino © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
