Palace says Marcos, Mabanta ‘not friends’; but ties show

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang sought to disassociate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. from social media operator Franco Mabanta, who was arrested on Tuesday over an alleged attempt to extort P350 million from former Speaker Martin Romualdez, a cousin of the President. The President and Mabanta “are not friends,” Palace press officer Claire Castro said at a

By cbuban