Arroyo's husband probed over bribery?<\/p>\n
MANILA (AP): President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday took
\nthe first step in initiating an investigation into allegations
\nthat her husband received bribes in exchange for the recall of
\nher veto of a telecommunications franchise deal.<\/p>\n
In her nationally televised weekly news conference, Arroyo
\nsaid she has referred the allegations against her husband, lawyer
\nJose Miguel Arroyo, for investigation by Ombudsman Aniano
\nDesierto, the chief government anti-corruption prosecutor.<\/p>\n
The move came days after local media reported that her husband
\nreceived about 50 million pesos ($925,925) in bribes in exchange
\nfor working on rescinding a veto by Arroyo of a local
\ntelecommunications franchise.<\/p>\n
\"We will have to get to the bottom of things. No ifs, no
\nbuts,\" she said, noting that her husband has denied the claims
\nand has called for an investigation himself.<\/p>\n
\"The truth is that I vetoed the franchise, I did not recall
\nthe veto and the veto will remain. Nonetheless, we must be like
\nCaesar's wife and we must be above suspicion,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Arroyo said she decided against referring the case to the
\nPresidential Anti-Corruption Commission and opted for an
\ninvestigation by the office of the ombudsman, a constitutionally
\nindependent body.<\/p>\n
Opposition politicians said they also will call for a
\ncongressional investigation into the allegations, first made by a
\nformer Arroyo secretary who resigned over alleged corruption by
\nher husband.<\/p>\n
Arroyo said her husband is \"looking forward to facing his
\naccusers in court\" upon his return from a trip to the United
\nStates next week.<\/p>\n
She appealed to the public not to prejudge the case pending
\nthe investigation and asked the opposition not to exploit the
\ncase for political ends.<\/p>\n
Presidential spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said that Arroyo has
\nconducted her own \"very detailed\" investigation and the results
\nwould be submitted to the ombudsman.<\/p>\n
Tiglao challenged the opposition to exploit the issue \"because
\nthey will be very very disappointed and embarrassed.\"<\/p>\n
Arroyo took office after her predecessor, Joseph Estrada, was
\nforced to step down amid massive anti-corruption protests.<\/p>\n
Estrada is under detention facing charges of economic plunder,
\na capital offense.<\/p>\n
Arroyo has made the fight against corruption a major platform
\nof her government. In her State of the Nation address last
\nMonday, Arroyo outlined a four-point program to help the
\ncountry's poor, including raising the government and society's
\n\"moral standards.\"<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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