FG buys Cayetano ticket to Germany

First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo’s staff is buying airline tickets for Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano so he can accompany Mr. Arroyo to Germany this week to verify accusations that the First Gentleman is keeping a secret bank account there.

In a statement, Mr. Arroyo said he is suing Cayetano for refusing to publicly apologize for the allegation that he has an account there containing millions of dollars.

"We will be sending the tickets to Congressman Cayetano on Wednesday and we might even make reservations for him so he can accompany us if he really has proof that the First Family has bank accounts in Germany," Juris Soliman, Mr. Arroyo’s chief of staff, said in a telephone interview.

She said Mr. Arroyo will be forced to sue Cayetano for libel, and to prove that his allegations are lies, they will personally check the existence of the alleged bank account.

Mr. Arroyo said Cayetano was making it appear that he was being misquoted by media.

"I and my family have no bank account in Germany and have nothing to explain. You have tarnished the reputation of my family and so you will not get away with mere words once your falsehoods are proven," he said.

"Since Congressman Cayetano won’t apologize, then what are we waiting for? Open a $1-million escrow account tomorrow in the name of the Filipino people and let’s go to Germany," Mr. Arroyo added.

Mr. Arroyo’s spokesman, Jesus Santos, asked why Cayetano was scared of putting $1 million in escrow in a bank and go with Mr. Arroyo, together with his witnesses, to Germany to verify his allegations.

"If he (Cayetano) is a man, why doesn’t he accept the challenge (of the First Gentleman)?" Santos asked. "What is he afraid of?"

Santos said going to Germany is the best way to find out the truth. It is the purported original source of Cayetano’s claims. He said Mr. Arroyo will even bring journalists at his expense to prove his innocence.

"We can only think of one reason why Congressman Cayetano is eating his words now and trembling in fear over Mr. Arroyo’s challenge - he knows he is lying and doesn’t want to pay," Santos said.

"Whatever is the reason, we are sure that the First Gentleman is not taking Congressman Cayetano’s black propaganda sitting down," he said.

Mr. Arroyo had earlier demanded a "full and unconditional" retraction from Cayetano.

He said he would give the money to Cayetano if the account was proven to exist. But if proven to be non-existent, Cayetano should instead pay Mr. Arroyo the amount that the lawmaker claimed that the First Gentleman has been stashing.

President Arroyo’s husband has periodically been a lightning rod for opposition attacks against her and is accused of being an influence-peddler working behind the scenes under his wife’s protection.

He had allegedly influenced several government transactions and appointments. — With Marvin Sy