MANILA, Nov. 28 -- Malacanang on Friday denied the allegation of former Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) chief Silvestre Bello III that he was sacked because he refused President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s alleged offer for him to run for a congressional post in Davao City.

"I talked to the President personally on this matter, and he said it's a lie," Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing, when asked to comment on Bello's allegation.

Speaking during a People's Congress organized by opposition Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Quezon City on Tuesday, Bello accused Marcos of offering PHP1 billion in exchange for his agreement to run against Rep. Isidro Ungab.

Bello claimed he was re...