In a statement, lawyer Jesus Santos said the latest charges that Mr. Arroyo financed poll fraud operations in Lanao to ensure the victory of his wife, President Arroyo, in last year’s elections were specifically designed to buttress the claims of a discredited military officer in Mindanao.
"Obviously, the opposition wants to give a warm welcome to the First Gentleman after his travel abroad. They remain fixated on their loss in last year’s elections, and are intent on justifying this with a rehash of discredited accusations that have already been dismissed in all the proper fora. Naturally, they must drag in the name of Atty. Mike so they can get the requisite media mileage," Santos said.
The First Gentleman arrived in the country Thursday from his self-imposed exile in San Francisco.
Santos dismissed the allegations hurled by alleged dagdag-bawas (vote-padding and -shaving) operators Lomala Macadaub and Abdul Wahab Batugan that they had conducted operations for the President in Lanao del Sur last year, which they claimed were sanctioned and funded by Mr. Arroyo.
He said it was clear that the two have a personal vendetta against the First Gentleman, whom they had asked for government posts, based on their correspondence with his office.
"What we have here is a failed blackmail attempt-cum-demand for jobs that has morphed into cannon fodder for another opposition-backed exposé. These characters wanted positions in government. They virtually demanded to be accommodated, but the First Gentleman did not succumb because he knows nothing about their scurrilous accusations," Santos said.
He said the two supposed witnesses maliciously presented as proof of their allegations a photo of the First Gentleman with members of the Lanao Unity Movement for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a legitimate non-government organization that supported Mrs. Arroyo’s candidacy in Lanao.
"The only thing shadowy about this photo is Macadaub and Batugan and the malicious twist they have given an innocent photo opportunity. The First Gentleman met with this group only once, in Cagayan de Oro hotel last April 2004. He doesn’t even know them," Santos said.
Santos noted that Mr. Arroyo was sent as a representative of the President, who could not make it at that time. He said that as far as the First Gentleman knows, the Lanao Unity Movement is a legitimate political group that campaigned for the President’s victory in Lanao, and his sole meeting with them was "a matter of courtesy, thanks, and respect for their efforts on behalf of the President."
Santos challenged the two whistleblowers to present their evidence and swear under oath to the truthfulness of their allegations so his client could take appropriate legal action against them.
House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Gerry Salapuddin and Reps. Benasing Macarambon of Lanao del Sur and Exequiel Javier of Antique, in a joint statement, said the claims made by these two supposed witnesses were "laughable," and were clear attempts by Mrs. Arroyo’s foes to use every issue against her, "even those that have already gathered mold as disproved and baseless attacks."
Macarambon said the allegations of Macadaub and Batugan were too fantastic to believe. "In the first place, why would the First Gentleman or any political leader from Metro Manila or Luzon trust someone like them in Mindanao with money, when they are not known in Lanao del Sur?" he said.
He added that logic dictates that, if one were recruiting political operators in a province, he or she would choose those with political influence or clout.
"Why choose no-names instead of the governor, city mayor or other local officials in Lanao del Sur to help the President when these officials have the influence and following? The story is simply incredible because the President won fair and square in Lanao del Sur," Macarambon said.
He also said he had spent half his life in politics and "have not met anyone like Macadaub and Batugan who claim they were recruited as political leaders despite lacking any political influence whatsoever."