MANILA, Philippines - First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo feels that the media and his critics have treated him and President Arroyo unfairly during the nine years that they were in Malacañang.
“The last nine years – I think it was very unfair the way GMA was treated,” he said.
Mr. Arroyo spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the launching of his two books yesterday at Malacañang.
“(Mrs. Arroyo’s) achievements were not highlighted,” he said.
“We did not go into recession, the country did very well. But people don’t seem to know that. Other countries, the US, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Korea, all of these countries went into recession; the Philippines never went into recession.”
One of the books that Mr. Arroyo presented yesterday carried the title “The First,” which showed various aspects of his life, starting from his childhood to his marriage to Mrs. Arroyo and to his activities as the First Gentleman.
The last section of the book with the title “Setting the Record Straight” provided Mr. Arroyo’s answers to a lot of allegations against him.
With the help of his lawyer Ruy Rondain and his chief of staff Juris Soliman, Mr. Arroyo tackled the issues of the World Bank road projects scandal, his alleged fake heart ailment and money laundering activities, the aborted NBN-ZTE deal, the fertilizer fund scam, his alleged multi-million dollar bank account in Germany, the use of a very expensive suite in Las Vegas, his role in alleged election fraud in 2004, the jueteng payola, Jose Pidal exposé, his alleged involvement in smuggling, the importation of rotten rice, the use of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds for campaign purposes, his designation as an envoy for overseas Filipino workers and the libel cases he filed against journalists and political figures.
Most of what was contained in the book was his and his lawyer’s answers to the issues raised.
“Much has been written and said about the controversies that surround First Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo, a man who has been crucified in the public eye too many times,” read the first line of that section of the book.
“Being the innately private person that the First Gentleman is, he has learned to roll with the punches at the right moments and deal with unflattering accusations with grace and patience, even choosing oftentimes not to dignify false charges with a reply.
“There’s a time and place for setting the record straight and this book is one of them.”
Mr. Arroyo told reporters that he had no misgivings about his stint as First Gentleman because he was always “happy to be able to serve, to do what I was supposed to do for the glory of God.”
Mr. Arroyo said he learned “to be humble” during his nine years as First Gentleman,
“I know that I cannot please everyone, but the truth speaks for itself – all the documents and evidence show that the allegations are lies and mere fabrications,” he said.
“I sleep well at night knowing that at the end of the day, we’ll answer to only one and He will be the judge on how we’ve lived our lives.”
Mr. Arroyo also defended Mrs. Arroyo, whom he believes was also subjected to very unfair treatment.
Mrs. Arroyo deserved more credit for doing so much for the country, he added.
Mr. Arroyo expressed hope they would get fair treatment from the incoming administration of president-elect Benigno Aquino III.
“Let him investigate, if what will come out there is nothing,” he said.
“She did not do anything. There’s nothing that she did that’s bad. Well, I don’t know what they really intend to do.
“So let’s just leave it at that. I don’t want to make any further comment about the next administration.”
The second book was entitled “181 Dreams,” a compilation of stories from each of the scholars whose dreams were fulfilled by the First Gentleman Foundation Inc.