Nograles to dissuade House members from joining GMA in Peru

MANILA, Philippines – No member of the House of Representatives will join President Arroyo in her trip to Peru this weekend – at least officially.

Speaker Prospero Nograles said yesterday he would dissuade his colleagues from leaving the country at this time “considering the many pending matters in the House like the impeachment case against the President.”

He said other important pending measures include the proposed P1.415-trillion 2009 national budget, the proposal to extend the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program and the Reproductive Health Bill, which seeks to extensively promote family planning.

He said if he would have his way, he would not approve any application for travel from his colleagues.

If they decide to go, “they will be on their own,” he added.

North Cotabato Rep. Emmylou Talino Mendoza admitted that she is one of those joining the presidential entourage to Peru.

“There’s nothing wrong if we are going to shoulder our own expenses. There’s also nothing wrong for the President to meet with world leaders,” she said.

Rep. Maria Milagros Magsaysay of Zambales said she was “one of those enlisted to go, but because of the impeachment complaint and other important bills, I decided not to go.”

She said she always paid for her own expenses when she joined Mrs. Arroyo on her foreign trips.

The House committee on justice starts tackling the impeachment case against the President today.

Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez admitted he was in the list of those joining the Peru trip.

“But four hours ago, I have decided to back out because I have a lot of work to do,” he told a news conference.

Asked why such a huge group wants to join Mrs. Arroyo to Peru despite the economic crisis, Suarez said, “We have problems, but we don’t have a crisis.”       

For his part, Deputy Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said the matter of leaving the country at this time is addressed to the individual House member.

“We have urgent legislative matters to take up, like the impeachment complaint and other bills,” he said, adding that he hasn’t joined a presidential trip.

The President is scheduled to leave on Saturday for Lima, Peru to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit.

Her Peru trip comes a week after her arrival from her short visit to the United States, also with a delegation from the House.

Her recent US trip was her third this year. Before that, she was in China, also with a large House group in tow.

At least 42 congressmen and congresswomen have expressed their intention to join Mrs. Arroyo’s Peru trip to the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office.

The President herself invited many of them to be part of her entourage during Nograles’ 61st birthday celebration in Davao City two weeks ago.

One House source said the congressmen want to join the presidential trip so they can visit Machu Picchu, Peru’s top tourist destination and one of the world’s newest cultural heritage sites.

Large groups of House allies have been joining the President in her foreign trips.

In one US visit, no fewer than 60 congressmen and congresswomen were with her. At least 35 joined her in one European trip.