Mike A allies come to his defense

Allies of embattled First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo in the House of Representatives came to his defense yesterday in the controversy surrounding his reported stay in an expensive hotel suite in Las Vegas, Nevada to watch the Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales boxing bout.

"He is not the one referred to in reports about an official who rented a $20,000-a-night suite in Vegas. Even the opposition has not claimed it was the First Gentleman," said Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III.

The controversy about the unnamed official has diverted attention away from boxing and Pacquiao, he said.

Albano was part of the group led by Arroyo in Las Vegas over a week ago.

Another Arroyo ally, Palawan Rep. Antonio Alvarez, said the House should not drag the First Gentleman into an investigation of his Las Vegas accommodations.

"The queries have been answered satisfactorily. It is time to move on and attend to the graver problems of the nation," he said.

"It is unfair that a person who was not in the ring in Las Vegas is the one getting pummeled," he added.

Both Albano and Alvarez belong to Kampi, a political group identified with President Arroyo and her husband. Kampi is led by Antipolo City Rep. Ronaldo Puno.

The First Gentleman’s equally controversial lawyer, Jesus Santos, and Bacolod City Rep. Monico Puentebella, have confirmed that the President’s husband stayed at the high-end MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, but that his suite did not cost $20,000 a night. They did not say, however, how much it did cost.

Both Santos and Puentebella also claimed the accommodation was given as a courtesy by the hotel.

But according to Arroyo’s brother, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, he and the First Gentleman stayed in an ordinary room that was paid for by relatives and friends in Las Vegas.

The President’s husband may be invited to a projected House hearing on the controversy.

Kampi spokesman, Isabela Rep. Anthony Miranda said yesterday the controversy kicked up by the media about the Filipino staying in a $20,000 a night suite in Las Vegas was a non-issue because the report was never substantiated.

In a statement, Miranda expressed bewilderment over the opposition’s filing a resolution for the House to probe the incident, since he said the source of the report was an opinion item that appeared in a newspaper column.

"We welcome any probe that could unearth anomalies or which could lead to better governance for our people. But if the columnist in question had already clarified that no Filipino did actually stay in that alleged MGM Grand Hotel villa, then what are we going to investigate?" he said.

Minority Leader Francis Escudero, in Resolution 685 filed yesterday, asked the committee on revision of laws to determine whether the Civil Code and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees apply to whichever official spent $20,000 (more than P1 million) a night in Las Vegas.

He said since the First Gentleman, through Santos, has spoken out about his Vegas stay, he would suggest that Arroyo be invited to the inquiry.

He said the two laws exhort public officials and their families, especially the President and her immediate relatives, to live modestly and not to flaunt their wealth during difficult times.