Arroyo: 'I'm having plenty of sex'

Dona Z. Pazzibugan and Carlito Pablo The Philippines Inquirer Asia News Network Manila

She spoke about the Philippines - U.S. relations, tax collection, good governance and the 2004 elections but she was certain that her declaration that she's having "plenty" of sex was what would make the headlines.

The scene was President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's annual luncheon with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap), which was attended by businessmen, diplomats, Speaker Jose de Venecia and other government officials including from the military and police.

As expected, Focap members asked her about her supposed plan to seek the vote as President in 2004, military assistance from the United States, the budget deficit and other policy issues.

Raisa Robles, a correspondent of the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, asked about the death penalty, which the administration had suspended. She then said she had two more questions but would settle for just one.

"I'm sure that a lot of women are trying to ask you this question. And since you are not a widow, they would like to ask you this question," Robles said. "You don't have to answer it, Madame President, but I think a lot of women would like to ask: Do you still have sex?"

As the audience roared with laughter, the 55-year-old mother of three smiled shyly and, after a moment's pause, replied: "Plenty."

More laughter from the audience, at which the President's smile widened and she said: "That's going to be the headline."

"Please make foreign policy the headline," she pleaded good- naturedly with the media members present, referring to the speech she delivered prior to the open forum.

The President let the laughter go on for a few more seconds, and then she was all business when the next Focap member asked about the effect of her anti-terrorism drive in Mindanao on Muslim countries.

Some reporters covering Malacanang, especially the veterans on the beat, expressed shock that such a question was posed to Arroyo.

They noted that not even deposed President Joseph Estrada was asked point-blank about his sex life at the height of the scandal about his numerous mistresses.

But Arroyo appeared more annoyed at persistent questions about her plans for 2004 than at the question about her sex life.

The President was her noncommittal self on the subject of her political plans. She asserted that her "primary focus is on governance," but she also said that "if the politicians are preparing for 2004, I thank them."

"As Butch Abad said, politicians will be committing suicide if they are not prepared," she said.

She was referring to Batanes Rep. Florencio Abad, who, as president of the Liberal Party, pledged all-out support for her when new party officials were sworn in.

Arroyo is the honorary chair of LP, the political party of her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal.

But while she was pleasant toward Abad, she was hardly that toward Environment Secretary Heherson Alvarez, another key ally who is also a member of her Cabinet.

At first, the President acknowledged Alvarez's presence at the luncheon. But she also said: "I am not acknowledging any other members of the Cabinet because I tell them they should not make a habit to follow me all the time wherever I go."

Alvarez is the newly designated spokesperson of the ruling Lakas- NUCD, of which the President and De Venecia are co-chairs.

Before she took note of Alvarez, Arroyo acknowledged the presence of De Venecia, and even invited him to join her at her table.

She also said Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes was not present because he was defending his department's 2003 budget before Congress.

In the open forum, the President fended off persistent questions about her political plans. "Politically, I am fatalistic," she said. "I think the presidency is made in heaven, and that's up to God."

She said she had her work cut out for the next six months, in the form of boosting the domestic economy, reinvigorating tourism and decongesting traffic in Metro Manila.

Asked when she would make known her plans for 2004, she said: "I don't know.

"The Lord's timing is always perfect, so I leave it up to Him. I don't spend my time introspecting about 2004."

The President also said she did not intend to convince her critics and the public in general that she was not casting a moist eye on 2004.

"I don't have to convince anybody, I just have to convince myself," she declared. "I know myself. And if my opponents think that I am thinking of 2004, that's their problem because they are always thinking of 2004."

She also indicated that she was not worried about the drop in her public approval rating.

In its last survey, the Social Weather Stations said the President's net approval rating went down from a previous level of 28 to 18, or a slide of 10 points.

The President said the "contextual reason" for the drop might have been the new Abu Sayyaf hostage taking and the controversy over the construction of Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

"So it rises and falls depending on what the issue is," she said. "As a public servant, it is good for me to look at the reason behind any rise and fall, but that is supposed to be so it would guide in my policy."

At one point, Arroyo appeared exasperated by the persistent questions about her political plans.

"No matter how you re-do the question, my answers are the same," she said. "My political fate is in the hands of God whose timing is perfect, who loves me and each one of us."