De Castro fumes over talk he owns a Leyte islet

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Noli de Castro has denied reports that he received an islet as a gift from Celso de los Angeles, the owner of the collapsed Legacy Group of Companies. "Kung sila'y may ebidensya na sa akin yun ibibigay ko sa kanila. Sa inyo na at magkulong kayo diyan sa isla na yan," De Castro said in an interview with GMA News’ Mark Salazar that was aired on “24 Oras." (If they can show evidence, I would give that supposed islet to them. They can have it and isolate themselves there.) De Castro said detractors could be spreading that talk to destroy him, especially now that he is topping in presidential race surveys. According to the report, a text message has been circulating claiming that De Castro owns the Calamgaman Island in Leyte province. At the same time, a self-proclaimed private island specialist, Cheyenne Morrison, also wrote in his blog that the island was owned by the Vice President. “One of the prettiest little coral islands I have ever seen, located in Leyte Gulf in the Philippines... You can walk around the whole island in less than 30 minutes. The island is inhabited only by guards, and it is owned by Noli De Castro, the Vice President of the Philippines," said Morrison in his blog entry, which has been deleted. An angry De Castro challenged Morrison to present evidence that could substantiate his claims. “Who is this man? If he has the evidence he better come out. If he has nothing, he is a coward. I challenge you," De Castro said. To further prove that the report was a demolition job, De Castro wrote the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) to investigate the matter. But in an email to GMA News, Morrison apologized to De Castro, even as he explained that he does not have any malicious intent when he wrote the article. "...there were numerous sources on the Net stating that he owned the island. This is the source I based my report upon" Morrison explained. "There was no malicious intent whatsoever. If the Vice President found it malicious, I am sorry. I was merely writing about island," he added. Earlier, at the height of the investigation on Legacy mess, De Castro was implicated as having special ties with De los Angeles. He was also accused of receiving money from the latter for his candidacy in the 2007 elections. De Castro has denied the accusations. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV