US dinner hosts join GMA anew

MANILA, Philippines - The two congressmen who reportedly paid $35,000 (P1.7 million) for two dinners during President Arroyo’s visit to the United States last month are traveling with her in London and Saudi Arabia.

They are among the “lean” delegation of six members of the House of Representatives accompanying Mrs. Arroyo.

The six are Representatives Martin Romualdez of Leyte, Danilo Suarez of Quezon, Aurelio Gonzales Jr. and Anna York Bondoc of Pampanga, the President’s son Diosdado Arroyo of Camarines Sur, and Amelita Villarosa of Mindoro Occidental.

They are among Mrs. Arroyo’s favorite companions whenever she travels abroad.

In her speech before the Filipino community at the Intercontinental Park Lane Hotel in London, she acknowledged both Suarez and Romualdez as part of delegation, a Palace release said.

Her recent US visit became controversial because of two dinners she and her entourage of at least 28 House members enjoyed – one in New York City and another in Washington D. C.

After US newspapers exposed the expensive meals of steak, lobster, escargot, soft shell crabs, and $510-a-bottle wines, Suarez admitted that it was he who paid $15,000 for the Washington dinner at Bobby Vans Steakhouse.

He had initially denied there was such a dinner, saying he thought it wouldn’t be discovered.

In the case of Romualdez, Malacañang said it was the Leyte congressman who shelled out $20,000 for the meals at the French restaurant Le Cirque in New York, but Romualdez has not officially confirmed or denied the claim up to now.

He attended the House session last Wednesday, when Mrs. Arroyo’s entourage was in Turkey, the first leg of her three-nation tour, and apparently caught up with the President’s party in London.

Over the weekend, Suarez told ABS-CBN News Channel that the President was avoiding expensive lunches and dinners.

Mrs. Arroyo chose to dine with Filipinos in London and had brunch with the Filipino community at the ballroom of the Intercontinental Park Lane Hotel.

In her speech before the Filipino community, Mrs. Arroyo said her visit to London was part of the government’s overall strategy to engage the global community “to benefit the economy, promote the welfare of overseas Filipino workers and enhance our national security.”

The President was all business when she dined with Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp. (HSBC) officials in London and revealed that the bank was pleased with their investments in the Philippines.

Suarez once boasted that he usually invited Mrs. Arroyo and her husband to expensive restaurants whenever they travel abroad.

He has admitted that his family corporation is applying for a P1-billion loan from two government banks – Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank – and Banco de Oro, controlled by the family of retail magnate Henry Sy.

But he claimed that he was not using his friendship with the Arroyos to influence the banks.

The congressmen’s trip to the US last month remains shrouded in mystery. Up to now, it is not known who shouldered their expenses.

Some of them have admitted that they did not spend for their trip and that they did not know who paid for it.

Malacañang has said it paid only for Speaker Prospero Nograles and Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Lito Lapid.

According to Nograles, the House did not pay for his colleagues’ expenses.