Ping’s wish for GMA: Happy life after retirement

Opposition presidential hopeful Sen. Panfilo Lacson wished President Arroyo yesterday a happy life "after retirement."

"She should enjoy life beginning on July 1, 2004. She’s good (for the presidency) only up to June 30," he said on the occasion of Mrs. Arroyo’s 57th birthday.

He said the President should have peace of mind in retirement.

"Everybody who is going out of public service deserves that. I, too, deserve that when I quit politics," he said.

For his part, House Minority Leader Carlos Padilla, Lacson’s lone senatorial candidate, said Mrs. Arroyo "should enjoy life with Jose Pidal."

"She should have happiness with Mr. Pidal after retiring in July. They haven’t had enough time together. In fact, they have rarely been seen together since the campaign started," he said.

By Jose Pidal, Padilla was of course referring to First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

Lacson had accused the First Gentleman of hiding about P260 million in supposedly illegal funds using the false name Jose Pidal and three friends as dummies. — Jess Diaz