|
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Husband Mike to go on exile
MANILA President Arroyo announced yesterday that her husband Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo will be going abroad soon to “remove all distractions and doubts” from the people’s minds and to signal that she means business.
Pro-administration senators welcomed the move, but the opposition dismissed it as just a “drama to elicit public sympathy.”
In a speech at the Philippine Business Leaders’ Forum in Makati City, Arroyo said: “My husband has volunteered to go abroad. He and even his contributions to health care and sports development have been the object of pillory, especially by my political enemies who have been trying to distract me from fulfilling my reform agenda as President.”
The First Gentleman has been a lightning rod for opposition attacks against the President. Media reports have alleged that he has influenced several government transactions and appointments.
Along with the President’s brother-in-law Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo and presidential son, Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, the First Gentleman has also been accused of taking payoffs from illegal lottery operators. They all reject the allegations.
Mikey took an indefinite leave earlier this month from his seat in the House of Representatives amid the payoffs allegations, which are being investigated by the House.
Arroyo said “this has been a subject of considerable pain for me and for my family.”
Caesar’s wife
She said her husband “will leave to remove these distractions and doubts from our people,” comparing him to a “Caesar’s wife” who must not only be incorruptible but also appear to be incorruptible.
“I’m grateful to my husband for his sacrifice. My family will miss him terribly,” the President also said.
Press Secretary and presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the First Gentleman will leave the country on July 5 and will be gone “for a much longer period.”
Mr. Arroyo’s departure is among the three reported demands of many Cabinet members who have threatened to resign over the wiretapping controversy.
The other two are for the President to speak up on the tapes and for Mikey and Iggy to resign from the House of Representatives.
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, a close adviser of President Arroyo, said the self-exile of the First Gentleman is one of 10 major announcements that the President will make every two days.
“These are not flimsy and frivolous announcements but substantial announcements,” he said.
Among the next announcements are a “massacre” of appointees perceived close to the First Gentleman. These are mostly in government corporations such as Winston Garcia of the Government Service Insurance System, Efraim Genuino of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and Alfonso Cusi of the Manila International Airport Authority.
“If she believes that allowing her husband to leave the country at this critical stage will help her provide good governance, then I applaud her for making such an enormous sacrifice in her family,” Senate President Franklin Drilon said.
But the opposition is not taking the statement seriously because they believe President Arroyo only wants to get sympathy from the public, after her admission of talking to an election official during the canvassing of presidential votes in last year’s elections.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said it is not enough that the First Gentleman will leave the country to save the government.
“It’s just a cosmetic move to elicit a sympathetic emotional response in people’s hearts. It’s not enough to atone for her offenses,” Pimentel said. (Sunnex/AFP)
(June 30, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
