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Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Arroyo's son goes on 'indefinite' leave
MANILA -- Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel Arroyo decided Monday to take an indefinite leave of absence from Congress after he was implicated in illegal gambling payoffs along with his uncle Ignacio Arroyo, also a congressman.
"After personal deliberation on the preceding weeks of unmitigated attacks on my person, I have decided to go on leave of absence as member of the House of Representatives until my name is cleared of any taint from the jueteng issue," President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's son said in a statement.
The move was promptly welcomed by Malacañang.
Calls for the resignation of Arroyo, her congressman-son, and her brother-in-law Ignacio, also a member of the House of Representatives, got the support of another administration senator Monday.
The two Arroyo congressmen were identified by witnesses during a Senate inquiry on the illegal numbers game jueteng as among the personalities receiving payola from the illegal gambling operators. Among the witnesses was Sandra Cam, who claimed to have personally delivered jueteng payola to Juan Miguel.
The two congressmen denied the accusations.
"I have made this decision on my own volition, to dispel any misimpression that I may use my office to influence the investigation of the allegations aired during the Senate probe on jueteng. Needless to say, I am confident that I will be cleared completely of any wrongdoing by the proper authorities," he said.
Juan Miguel also said he will stop issuing statements or comments on the jueteng scandal to avoid perceptions of influencing the investigation.
Malacañang Palace welcomed Juan Miguel's decision to go on indefinite leave.
Arroyo's spokesman Ignacio Bunye, also the press secretary, said Juan Miguel's decision is a laudable act.
"For too long, rumor, innuendo and unsubstantiated allegations have been hurled ostensibly against him but (it's) really against the President," he said.
"This should pave the way for an impartial and transparent investigation by the Ombudsman which has been authorized by the President," he added.
Bunye also assured that the President's brother-in-law would return soon from his trip abroad.
The senator calling for the resignation of the Arroyo congress was Senator Rodolfo Biazon, who said President Arroyo should step down as well.
Biazon said President Arroyo, her son and brother-in-law should leave their posts to save the country.
Biazon said "the capacity of the President to govern has been materially damaged so there must be an effort to repair the damage," adding that if the capacity of a leader to govern is totally damaged, dangerous elements may step in and take the opportunity to grab power.
He said he supports the suggestion of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. for President Arroyo to resign and also the suggestion of Senator Richard Gordon for the two congressmen to leave their posts.
Pimentel earlier urged Arroyo to resign because she lost the moral ascendancy to lead the country after some members of her family were linked to jueteng operations.
More damaging, according to Pimentel, is the supposed taped telephone conversation between her and Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.
Witnesses who appeared during the Senate hearings on jueteng have claimed that the Arroyo congressmen received jueteng payola amounting to P500,000 per month. (JMR/JPM/Sunnex) |
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