In what many are calling a series of “unsettling coincidences,” a private citizen’s complaint linking First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos to alleged “ghost projects” surfaced just as a fire broke out inside a key office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under investigation for corruption.

The twin controversies have stirred a storm of public suspicion — one involving the country’s most powerful family, and another a suspicious blaze that erupted during an ongoing probe into anomalous infrastructure deals.

It all began when a man named John Santander, a private citizen, filed what he called a “letter of sentiment” before the Independent Commission of Investigation (ICI). The letter requested a formal review of alleged ties between First Lady Liza Marcos and a contractor named Mayard Ngu, who has been accused of participating in “ghost projects” — infrastructure projects that exist only on paper.

“Private citizen filed the letter of sentiment before ICI yesterday,” the reporter narrated. “He’s asking the ICI to look into possible ties between First Lady Liza Marcos and Mayard Ngu.”

The complaint quickly made headlines, not only because it implicated the First Lady but because of how her camp responded.

The First Lady’s spokesperson, Atty. Claire Castro, sparked outrage when she mocked the complainant instead of addressing the allegations. In a remark that instantly went viral, she compared Santander to a man sent to buy vinegar.

“A nuisance candidate who seems to have been given money to buy vinegar and submitted the letter of sentiment along the way to the ICI,” she said sarcastically. “Oh, he was just sent to buy vinegar.”

The comment drew widespread criticism online, with many accusing the Marcos camp of arrogance and insensitivity. Political commentators pointed out that instead of welcoming transparency, the spokesperson’s tone came off as dismissive and contemptuous toward a citizen simply exercising his right to question those in power.

“Perhaps you should be open to investigation,” one commentator fired back. “Your challenge shouldn’t be to insult the poor. You should be happy because the investigation is moving forward.”

When pressed further about the alleged relationship between the First Lady and contractor Mayard Ngu, the spokesperson’s response only deepened the intrigue.

“She did not mention anything to us about that,” Castro said. “She only mentioned the letter of sentiment. That’s it.”

Just as the story gained traction, another headline broke — a fire had erupted inside the DPWH Bureau of Research and Services in Quezon City, where investigators were reviewing records tied to anomalous flood control projects.

The timing raised eyebrows across the political spectrum.

“It is being investigated if this was intentional,” a news anchor reported, “because it happened in the middle of the investigation of the Anomalous Flood Control Projects.”

Inside the bureau’s Materials Testing Division, an explosion was reportedly heard moments before the flames spread. The initial cause, according to early findings, was a computer that allegedly “exploded.”

But the coincidence was too striking for many to ignore.

“Just a coincidence, Bongbong Marcos?” one commentator said with biting sarcasm. “I’ve been alive a long time in this world… In your term, your term, there are so many coincidences.”

Officials from DPWH were quick to issue a statement claiming that none of the corruption-related documents were affected by the fire.

“No documents pertaining to the issues being discussed now were affected,” one official assured. “We are conducting research.”

Still, skepticism ran high. Many netizens and watchdog groups argued that the statement only added to suspicions, especially given the department’s recent history of being linked to irregularities in flood control spending.

The Bureau of Research and Services is the office responsible for testing materials used in public infrastructure projects — making it a critical repository of technical and procurement data. Any damage or loss within that unit could significantly impact ongoing corruption investigations.

This isn’t the first time fire and controversy have collided in recent Philippine history. Observers recalled several similar “accidents” over the years — from warehouse fires during Customs probes to sudden data losses amid Senate hearings.

Now, with the First Lady herself indirectly tied to a contractor under scrutiny, critics say the optics could not be worse.

“What are the odds?” one political analyst commented. “A corruption probe, a contractor with alleged ties to the First Lady, and a fire in a research office holding sensitive data — all within days? Either the country is extremely unlucky, or something very deliberate is happening.”

Despite the growing outcry, the Marcos administration has yet to issue a detailed response beyond the statements of its spokesperson. The President has remained silent on the issue, and no formal comment has come from the Palace.

Meanwhile, watchdog groups are urging the ICI to pursue the investigation “without fear or favor,” noting that even a symbolic act of inquiry could strengthen public trust in government institutions.

The ICI has not yet confirmed whether it will formally docket Santander’s “letter of sentiment” as an official complaint. But the public conversation is already shifting from one man’s allegation to a broader question of government integrity.

For many, the events have become emblematic of a deeper problem — a perceived erosion of accountability in the highest levels of power. The commentator behind the viral report summed it up best:

“In your term, there are so many coincidences,” he said. “And every time, it’s always the poor, the powerless, and the honest who end up paying the price.”

Whether or not the fire was intentional, and whether the First Lady’s alleged ties to a contractor prove real, one thing is clear: the Filipino people are watching closely — and they are demanding answers.

Until those answers come, the twin flames of suspicion and outrage will continue to burn.