Mike Arroyo's wish: End to political attacks

All he wants for Christmas is to get the monkey off his back.

First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo’s wish for Christmas is for politicians to get off his back, and for the political opponents of President Arroyo to stop attacking him and the Chief Executive.

"They should think of what’s good for the Philippines," he said. "It’s really time to heal the Filipinos, unite and move forward."

The 56-year-old Mr. Arroyo was obviously hurt that his wife’s former chief of staff, Bulacan Rep. Wilfrido Villarama, has turned against them, accusing him of receiving P18 million from Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez.

The Manila congressman said on television that he had given a total of P18 million to Mr. Arroyo to be deposited in a bank account under the name of Lualhati Foundation.

However, Mr. Arroyo said he and the President have nothing to do with Lualhati Foundation or the Ginintuan at Makabayang Alay (GMA) Foundation.

Villarama and Jimenez hurled their accusations a week after Mr. Arroyo was criticized for accepting an appointment as his wife’s special envoy to overseas Filipinos.

He later rejected the appointment after a howl of protest from the opposition.

Earlier, Mrs. Arroyo said her husband has become the "favorite whipping boy" of her political foes and that he has served as the "lightning rod" of every political strike against her.

But the First Gentleman said he could only have this Christmas wish for the President: "To be healthy and to lead the Filipino nation wisely."

He said he has given Mrs. Arroyo a Christmas bag which he bought in Hong Kong last week after attending to the needs of overseas Filipinos in that Chinese special administrative region.

The First Family will spend Christmas eve at the family residence in La Vista, Quezon City before motoring to Baguio City on the 26th, he added. — Marichu Villanueva