Trying to lighten the mood over a looming jueteng probe in Congress and persistent controversies hounding her husband, President Arroyo joked with reporters in Davao City yesterday about First Gentleman Mike Arroyo’s whereabouts.
"He’s on a trip," the President told the press when asked about Mr. Arroyo. "Besides, don’t you guys all want him to disappear?"
The First Gentleman, along with his brother, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio ("Iggy") Arroyo, and son, Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo, were recently linked by reports to jueteng operations, though they have all denied any connection with the illegal numbers game.
Mr. Arroyo is reportedly in South Korea to speak before civic groups there and is returning to the country today or tomorrow.
It was the first time Mrs. Arroyo had publicly commented about her husband since the allegations surfaced.
Observers consider the First Gentleman something of a political liability for the President, or at the very least a lightning rod for criticism. Recently, he was criticized for staying in a lavish suite in a Las Vegas hotel while catching the Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales match there. Later, even his charity foundations to provide dialysis for kidney patients and dentures for the poor caught political flak.
The First Gentleman, apparently fed up with the bad press, decided to go skip town last Friday.
Meanwhile, Rep. Iggy Arroyo disclosed his whereabouts to prove that his older brother was not in hiding to escape allegations of jueteng payoffs.
The congressman defended his brother, who is a Rotarian, saying he was in South Korea for speaking engagements and some sightseeing.
From South Korea, the First Gentleman will reportedly visit Hong Kong for two days before returning to Manila. His brother denied the First Gentleman was running away from anything, noting no charges had been filed against anyone, nor was any invited to appear before any hearing.
Mr. Arroyo left on May 20, a day after an alleged jueteng operator and two bagmen claimed that they had given or collected protection money for the Arroyos.
Rep. Ignacio said he, Mike, their sister Marilou and cousins Severo Tuason and Angeles Quimson left for Singapore last Friday for a long-planned vacation.
He said he returned to the country last Sunday while his older brother flew on to South Korea.
Tuason went to Australia where his family resides and Quimson to England where she lives for part of the year.
Meanwhile, Rep. Mikey Arroyo also left for the United States to visit and speak before Filipino communities there.
He said he was scheduled to attend five events, including the Philippine Independence Day Ball of the Filipino-American Council of Greater Chicago, where he will be the guest of honor and speaker.
He did not say when he would return. Congress holds sessions until June 12 before going on recess. But the lawmaker said he would "fully cooperate" with the planned jueteng investigation.
"We are confident that we will be vindicated. We are sure that people will discover that this is merely a propaganda ploy that has no basis in truth," he said.
The President, meanwhile, is visiting Davao City and two other cities in Mindanao reportedly in an effort "get closer" to the people and discern the national mood. She has faced criticism over efforts to improve the country’s financial status through tax increases and other austerity measures. Meanwhile, the jueteng issue has focused more unwanted attention on her husband.
Seemingly trying to lighten her load, Mrs. Arroyo enjoyed her time in Davao City, where Mayor Rodrigo Duterte serenaded her with songs and fed her fresh durian. The President enjoyed a night out at the After Dark Piano Bar, a favorite of Mayor Duterte along Quiampo Blvd. here. Joining the President and mayor were Regional Development Council Chairman Jesus Ayala and other local government officials.
The President had arrived here with little fanfare, traveling almost incognito. She was whisked from the airport without police sirens or escorts straight to the Marco Polo Hotel, where she reportedly took a back entrance to reach the Presidential Suite on the 18th floor.
After meeting with at least 10 local business leaders for three hours at the Continental Lounge, Mrs. Arroyo reportedly accepted an invitation to relax with Mayor Duterte at the After Dark Piano Bar.
It was time spent with friends, away from the harsh glare of media attention, which Mrs. Arroyo well deserved, .according to Presidential Security Group chief Gen. Delfin Bangit. "She is entitled to a night out also. She is just human, she needs a break," Bangit told The STAR. — With Edith Regalado