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Monday, September 06, 2004
Aide defends Arroyo trips amid ban on junkets
MANILA -- President Arroyo will go abroad at least four more times this year despite a ban she imposed on most overseas travel for government officials as part of an austerity program, her spokesman said Sunday.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, however, defended the forthcoming travels, saying these are "official commitments" of Arroyo as Chief Executive.
"As head of state she needs to attend these international conferences," said Bunye.
He confirmed that Arroyo would be flying to Brunei to attend the wedding of Brunei's Crown Prince Muhtadee Billah Bolkiah on September 9.
She will be accompanied by her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes who were all invited by Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.
Bunye declined to say how long the trip would be and who would finance the trip, which is "not an official trip but based on the personal invitation of Sultan Bolkiah."
Arroyo is also scheduled to go to Vietnam in October for the fifth Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem), and will attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit in Chile and the Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations) Summit in Laos both in November, Bunye added.
Arroyo drew flak for her three-day state visit to China where she brought her husband, her sons, daughters-in-law, two granddaughters and their nannies, and brother-in-law after issuing an order banning most foreign travel for government officials.
Her spokesman defended the inclusion of Arroyo's family members and associates, saying they had paid for their trip out of their own pockets.
Arroyo issued the order imposing a ban on non-essential travel as part of austerity measures intended to head off a looming fiscal crisis. (AFP/JMR)
(September 6, 2004 issue)
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