20 congressmen joining GMA's trip to Syria, Egypt

MANILA, Philippines -  At least 20 members of the House of Representatives are reportedly joining President Arroyo on her five-day state visit to Egypt and Syria.

Sources told The STAR yesterday that most of those tagging along with the President are her favorite traveling companions.

“They have been the mainstays of the presidential entourage since 2005 when she went to New York with a delegation of more than 70 lawmakers and local officials,” one congressman said.

“She has since returned to New York and traveled to Europe at least twice with the same group of congressmen and congresswomen,” the source said.

He identified the “mainstays” as Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa and Representatives Martin Romualdez of Leyte, Hermilando Mandanas of Batangas, Danilo Suarez of Quezon, Rachel Arenas of Pangasinan, and Ma. Carissa Coscolluela of the party-list group Buhay.

The presidential entourage is leaving for Egypt and Syria this morning on a chartered flight.

Two weeks ago, the President visited Dubai accompanied by Villarosa, Romualdez and most of her favorite congressional companions.

Administration critics are wondering why the Middle East has become Mrs. Arroyo’s favorite destination since the financial crisis devastated the economy of the United States.

The lawmakers accompanying Mrs. Arroyo are in addition to those who flew to Las Vegas, Nevada to watch the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton boxing match.

Critics led by Sen. Francis Escudero urged Mrs. Arroyo to take the opportunity to ensure the protection of overseas Filipino workers from job scams and illegal recruiters during her trip to Egypt and Syria.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, for his part, said Mrs. Arroyo’s effort to promote overseas employment in the Middle East is not the solution to the country’s economic problem.

“Our overseas Filipino workers are exposed to great risks while they’re abroad, and their families are suffering from various social ills. This is not the solution we’re looking for,” Pangilinan said. 

“Sending Filipinos abroad is merely a band-aid solution and will not be sustainable in the long term,” he added.

Critics also noted the effect of the absence of many congressmen.

Last Wednesday, with many congressmen already abroad, the House failed to muster a quorum and tackle its business.

A 6 p.m. roll call showed only 100 of 263 members were present. Not even the swearing in of 25 new party-list representatives on Tuesday boosted attendance in plenary session.

In the wake of the trip abroad of many lawmakers even while Congress is in session, Nueva Ecija Rep. Edno Joson reiterated his appeal for a government-wide travel ban.

Joson said public officials “should be sensitive to the plight of our people, who are reeling from economic hardship caused by the global financial crisis.”

On Dec. 6, 2007, Joson filed Resolution 371 urging Congress to impose a three-year travel ban except in extreme cases when government personnel need to go abroad on official mission.

His colleagues, however, have sat on his travel ban proposal.

Joson made the proposal after Malacañang invited a 34-member House delegation led by Villarosa to accompany Mrs. Arroyo and her husband on their 10-day trip to France, Spain and Britain.

He noted reports that Malacañang spent at least $18,000 for each delegation member – $5,000 for airfare (business class), $500 a night for hotel accommodation, $500 a day for food, and $3,000 allowance.

The trip to France, Britain and Spain, where the Arroyos had a reunion and vacation, was the President’s second trip to Europe in 2007. – With Christina Mendez