What else can they throw at me? Mike A asks

First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo was rumored to have flown to Taiwan Friday for some engagements and to arrange a visit by Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian to the Philippines.

But the news that spread, especially in the Chinese community, only amused the First Gentleman.

Mr. Arroyo said the report was "funny and unbelievable," adding that he is not so stupid as to cause a diplomatic row between Manila and Beijing. "How can that happen, we have the one-China policy?" he asked, laughing.

"I don’t know what else they can think of throwing at me. Now they want to use me in straining our relations with China. That will cause a diplomatic problem if I do that," Mr. Arroyo said.

It was Mr. Arroyo’s chief of staff, Juris Soliman, who called up The STAR and said they were only at the Lourdes T. Arroyo building in Makati City, at a meeting and not anywhere else.

"Who is spreading that lie? Here, let me pass the phone to the First Gentleman so you can talk to him," Soliman said.

Mr. Arroyo said it was the first time he had heard the news. He said it would be easy to find out if he ever went to Taiwan.

The Philippines only maintains economic ties with Taiwan because of the one-China policy that recognizes a single Chinese government. — Aurea Calica