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Sunday, July 10, 2005
The president didn't tell us to resign
THE President didn't tell us to resign, clarified Representative Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo Jr. of the 5th District of Negros Occidental.
Iggy, in telephone interview Tuesday night, belied newspaper reports from Manila that right after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued her statement on the controversial 'Hello Garci' tape Monday night, she then told him and her eldest son Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel Arroyo to resign from Congress.
"That's not true. It's just a made-up statement from the opposition, " said Iggy.
He said he has the mandate of the people in his district so he has no reason to resign just because of the call of other people.
"I am bound to serve my constituents," he said.
He added: "To resign is tantamount to abandonment of my duty to my people and to my district."
"I assure the public that the President had never talked to me or to Mikey nor did that she asked us to resign," he said.
Earlier, the town councils of Hinigaran and Moises Padilla had passed a resolution asking the solon not to resign from his post despite of the juetenggate scandal that rocked the First Family.
Even opposition Mayor Emmanuel Aranda of Binalbagan also expressed full support to Iggy at the height of the controversy.
Fifth District mayors Carmenia Bascon of Himamaylan City, Caroll Guanco of Hinigaran, Dr. Enrico Elumba of La Castellana, Renato Malabor of Isabela and Jose Garcia of Moises Padilla signed a manifesto of support for their congressman.
Welcome
Iggy, meanwhile, welcomed the move of self-confessed jueteng "bagwoman" Sandra Cam to charge him and Mikey before the Office of the Ombudsman.
"That's a welcome development in our part and likewise an opportunity for us to explain our side so truth will prevail," he said.
He also said that Cam, being a "Liar Queen", will never succeed in her wrong crusade against us.
Both Iggy and Mikey were accused by Cam of allegedly receiving jueteng payola from Chief Supt. Restituto Mosqueda, then Police Regional Office 5 director.
Cam told the Senate three weeks ago that she personally delivered to the congressmen the P900,000 cash in P500 remunerationat Congress sometime in December last year.
Iggy and Mikey, however, denied Cam's allegation, saying that it was impossible for Cam to enter Congress without passing the security inspection.
But Cam said since the time of former President Fidel V. Ramos, her face served as her passes in Congress and Senate as well as in Malacañang.
Subpoena
On the other hand, the Negros Occidental Provincial Prosecutor's Office is about to issue subpoena to Cam within these days.
This is to allow her to file a counter affidavit on the P10 million damage suit filed against her by Iggy last June.
The case was in connection with Cam's expose' against Iggy and Mikey.
Iggy, meanwhile, said in case he wins the case against Cam, he will donate the P10 million to the 5th District in form of livelihood projects.(EASD)
(June 29, 2005 issue)
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