Palace officials led by Press Secretary Noel Cabrera are making sure that no questions about the telecommunications franchise controversy involving First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo are asked of the President.
No reason was given for the moratorium and Palace officials appeared to have made themselves unusually scarce for clarification. Malacañang apparently wanted the President to avoid commenting on a case that the Office of the Ombudsman is set to investigate.
Media groups requesting for exclusive interviews were asked to submit draft questions and those pertaining to the First Gentleman were scratched out.
One Palace reporter, Jovy Francisco of ABC 5, said he was even approached at the last minute by a Palace official to remind him not to ask questions about the President’s husband.
The local television network ABS-CBN set the pace for the moratorium in a pre-taped interview with the President.
The same rule was applied in interviews by Jana Wednt of an Australian TV network, Azura Zainal Ratin of a Malaysian TV network, and Francisco.
Mrs. Arroyo on Friday gave the green light for government prosecutors to investigate her husband after former Malacañang correspondence secretary Veronica Rodrigo claimed he received P50 million to help revoke a presidential veto on the franchise application of the Philippine Communications Clearinghouse Inc. (PCCI).
"These are serious accusations," the President noted even as she said her husband has denied the allegations.
"We have to get to the bottom of things, no ifs, not buts," she added.
She admitted having vetoed PCCI’s franchise, adding that her decision will not change.
"Nonetheless, we must be like Caesar’s wife. We must be above suspicion," she stressed.
She also appealed to the political opposition to "suspend judgment" on the case and refrain from exploiting the scandal for political motives.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said the chamber is poised to conduct an inquiry on the controversy even as he admitted that they have no case yet against the First Gentleman.
The Chief Executive announced on Friday that she has directed her legal counsel to turn over documents on the PCCI case to the Office of the Ombudsman which will conduct the probe to determine who really got the P50 million.
Arroyo, currently in the United States for treatment of a back ailment, vowed to return next week to face the music and confront his accuser.
Rodrigo said she quit her job at the Palace after she felt alluded to by Arroyo’s statement that a resigned official received the P50-million bribe. — Marichu Villanueva