Posted on 07/06/2005 3:09:33 AM PDT by HAL9000
MANILA, July 6, 2005 (STAR) (AP) - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's corruption-tainted husband left Wednesday for self-imposed exile in the United States as part of the embattled leader's efforts to distance herself from political scandals that threaten her government.Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, a lawyer from a prominent family who has been accused of influence-peddling and receiving kickbacks from illegal gambling, bid a somber farewell to his daughter, son and granddaughter at Manila airport before boarding a flight to Hong Kong, from where he will continue to his final destination in the U.S.
"He is sad," his lawyer Jesus Santos said. "He wants to leave so that the president can do her work. He feels bad. He is saddened by reports that are erroneous."
Santos stressed that Arroyo's husband was leaving "on his volition."
The president said earlier her husband volunteered to leave the Philippines and that she was making a personal sacrifice to show her commitment to the nation.
Mike Arroyo is not facing any charges and has denied taking gambling payoffs-- the subject of a congressional inquiry. The president's son and brother-in-law also are accused of getting payoffs at a time when Arroyo is facing allegations of electoral fraud.
She has admitted talking to an election official during the bitterly contested May 2004 ballot, but denied influencing the outcome.
Arroyo has said she won't resign despite opposition street protests.
On Tuesday, she would be willing to face impeachment to prove her she didn't cheat.
Putting aside President Arroyo's politics and her corruption problems, I confess I find her rather attractive.
Arroyo won, but someone paid off a cell phone guru to record her cell phone calls to the COMELEC (elections commission) where she discusses things in such a way as to make the elections appear fixed.
Husband Arroyo is more corrupt than she is, though.
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