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Militants dismissed Arroyo’s reasons for US trip despite Frank as “garbage”

Leftwing activists belonging to the fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Tuesday dismissed as “stockpile of garbage” the reasons lined up by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo why she and her entourage for leaving the country to United States at the height of super typhoon Frank.

“That’s garbage, garbage and garbage,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

President Arroyo said it was difficult decision for her to proceed with the 10-day working visit to Washington, but she lined up several reasons why she and her entourage still proceeded with the trip. The Chief Executive said she fully trusted her people on the ground to do everything to address the situation.

Mrs. Arroyo said as a President, she has to make a decision whether to cancel important meetings with US President George W. Bush and leaders of Congress who specifically asked that she and her company be in Washington to lobby the passage of the Philippine veterans bill in American congress.

The President said aside from securing new pledges of jobs and investments from new business players, the Philippine government was able to reaffirm its strong ties with US in fighting terrorism, adding that aside from investment and food aid, security ties between the two countries were further strengthened.

“After spending over 1.5 million US dollars or roughly P 67 million in taxpayers’ money, President Arroyo and her junket gang have both the face and the nerve to say that what they did is for the sake of starving, yet struggling 88.5 million Filipinos. Give us break,” the Pamalakaya leader said.

Hicap pressed President Arroyo, and the 59 congressmen, two senators and 10 cabinet members who joined her 10 -day working visit to the United States to pay for their round trip tickets, hotel and other bills.

“Arroyo and her company should not charge their multi-billion expenses to the taxpaying public. This triple platinum robbery in broad daylight is highly condemnable and has no place in this world,” he added.

Pamalakaya further said: “The Filipino taxpayers are not obliged to pay this mother of all junket trip. If Arroyo and her gang want to see US President George W. Bush, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama and Republican presidential bet John McCain or witness the triumph of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao against David Diaz, that’s their prerogative, but please spare the people’s money.”

The group said Arroyo’s entourage to US had spent some $ 1.5 million or roughly P 66.885 M according to the present US dollar-peso exchange rate. He said the Philippine Airlines chartered by Malacañang to carry the entourage could reach $ 200,000, while the private plane used by President Arroyo from Fresno, California to Washington could cost taxpayers not less than $ 300,000.

Pamalakaya said the hotel bills at the top-rated Willard Hotel could cost Filipino taxpayers some 250,000 US dollars with rates ranging from $ 300 to $ 5,000. He said car rentals during the 10-day working visit could cost Filipino taxpayers some $ 150,000.

The Pamalakaya said each congressmen is also entitled to a P 100,000 monthly travel allowance, and since this is the only foreign trip so far in this month of June, he presumed the each congressional representative received the travel allowance for the month.

Pamalakaya identified the following congressmen who joined Arroyo’s trip to US. They are Rep. Narciso Santiago III, Alliance for Rural Concerns Party List Group, Rep. Monico Puentevella, Bacolod, Rep. Albert Garcia, Bataan , Rp. Mark Llandro L. Mendoza, Batangas, Rep. Hermilando Mandanas, Batangas, Rep. William Irwin Tieng, Buhay Party List Group, Rep. Jose Zubiri III, Bukidnon, Rep. Lorna Silverio, Bulacan, and Rep. Mitzi Cajayon, Caloocan.

Rep. Diosdado "Dato" Macapagal Arroyo, Camarines Sur, Rep. Joseph Santiago, Catanduanes, Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., Cavite, Rep. Antonio Cuenco, Cebu, Rep. Eduardo Gullas, Cebu, Deputy Speaker Raul Del Mar, Cebu City, Rep. Rommel Amatong, Compostela Valley, Speaker Prospero Nograles, Davao City, Rep. Antonio Lagdameo, Davao Del Norte, Rep. Marc Cagas, Davao Del Sur, Rep. Nelson Dayanghirang, Davao Oriental, Rep. Teodolo Coquilla, Eastern Samar, Rep. Andres Salvacion, Leyte, Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Leyte, Rep. Trinidad Apostol, Leyte, Rep. Ma. Zenaida Angping, Manila, Rep. Amado S. Bagatsing, Manila, Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., Manila, Rep. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, Masbate and Rep. Herminia Ramiro, Misamis Occidental.

Rep. Yevgeny Emano, Misamis Oriental, Rep. Rozzano Rufino Biazon, Muntinlupa,
Rep. Joseph Gilbert Violago, Nueva Ecija, Deputy Speaker Ma. Amelita C. Villarosa, Occidental Mindoro, Rep. Anna York Bondoc, Pampanga, Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Pampanga, Rep. Juan Miguel Macapagal Arroyo, Pampanga, Rep. Conrado Estrella III, Pangasinan, Rep. Ma. Rachel Arenas, Pangasinan, Rep. Eduardo C. Zialcita, Parañaque, Rep. Roman Romulo, Pasig City, Rep. Mary Ann Susano, Quezon City, Rep. Nanette C. Castelo-Daza, Quezon City, Rep. Danilo Suarez, Quezon Province, Rep. Junie Cua, Quirino, Rep. Arturo B. Robes, San Jose Del Monte,
Rep. Roger Mercado, Southern Leyte, Rep. Munir Arbison, Sulu, Rep. Rex Gatchalian, Valenzuela City and Rep. Antonio Diaz, Zambales.

Among the senators who joined President Arroyo are Senators. Miriam Defensor Santiago and
Sen. Richard Gordon, two of the President’s allies in the Upper House. The cabinet members who joined Mrs. Arroyo are Agriculture secretary Arthur Yap, budget secretary Rolando Andaya, Central Bank governor Amando Tetangco, Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro, local government secretary Ronaldo Puno, education secretary Sec. Jesli Lapus, environment secretary Lito Atienza, finance secretary Margarito Teves, foreign secretary Alberto Romulo, labor secretary Marianito Roque, presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye, press secretary Jesus Dureza and trade secretary Peter Favila.

“The most noble and appropriate political act these lawmakers and cabinet members should do is to declare to the public that they will pay for their own expenses and regret their association with President Arroyo and Malacañang,” Pamalakaya said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 10:55 | link | comments |
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