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Monday, June 20, 2005
Protests hound Arroyo’s Hong Kong visit
HONG KONG (Updated, 1:47 p.m.)-- Filipino labor activists and workers Monday protested President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as she began a one-day visit to Hong Kong with allegations swirling back home that her family was corrupt and she rigged the last election.
About 30 demonstrators stood outside President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's hotel, shouting slogans and holding up small white signs that said, "Out with Graft! Out with Gloria!"
Arroyo has said she was visiting Hong Kong to meet with business leaders and drum up investment. But some of the protesters insisted that Arroyo was trying to flee the political storm and firm up her power.
"What she's trying to do is convince the business community she's still in control of the country," said Aaron Ceradoy, an activist for the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants, which he said advocates for migrant workers.
Arroyo's opponents have accused her family of pocketing huge illegal gambling payoffs.
They're also alleging Arroyo rigged the 2004 election. They say an alleged wiretapped recording of her discussing with an election official the best way to ensure a 1 million-vote margin proves their allegations. Arroyo's office has said the tapes were doctored.
Arroyo has ordered an investigation of the graft accusations, but has refused to directly comment on the vote fraud allegations.
Filipino protester Goody Cadaoas believed the election fraud allegations. "She's a cheater. That's her voice 100 percent, no doubt."
Cadaoas, a housekeeper, said that Arroyo's meetings with Hong Kong business leaders would be unsuccessful. "I don't think these businessmen will believe her because she's a liar."
Eman C. Villanueva, a migrant activist with United Filipinos in Hong Kong, said Arroyo's investment-seeking visit was badly timed because the recent political instability would scare away potential investors.
"I don't think investors would be willing to put their money in the Philippines," he said.
He also thought Arroyo had other motives. "I think her trip this time is to escape the heat," he said.
Millions of Filipinos--mostly domestic helpers--work around the world, and they have become a new political force since they got the right to vote in the 2004 presidential election. Nearly 89,000 workers in Hong Kong registered to vote.
Also on Monday, Arroyo met with Tony Kwok, the former head of Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption and now the president's anti-corruption adviser. She was also meeting Airport Authority Chairman Victor Fung, who will host a lunch in her honor.
Expected at the luncheon are representatives from several leading companies in Hong Kong, including Hopewell Holdings, Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited, HSBC Holdings and Swire Pacific Limited.
Arroyo's Hong Kong trip is one of several to major Asian financial and business hubs. She will also make investment promotion trips to Singapore and Japan, but no dates have been announced, he said. (AP)
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