Arroyo leader denies extortion attempt

Tue, 04 Dec 2001, 00:00 WIB | Source: AFP

PHILIPPINES: President Gloria Arroyo on Monday rejected
allegations that she attempted to force a businessman to sign
over to her majority control of his telecommunications company.

Businessman Pacifico Marcelo has alleged that senior Arroyo
aides in August had asked him to transfer to the president a 51
percent stake in his start-up, Philippine Communications
Clearinghouse Inc. (PCCI).

The Senate blue-ribbon committee has said it plans to
investigate the corruption allegations.

In April, Arroyo had vetoed legislation that would have given
the PCCI franchise to act as a clearinghouse for
telecommunications firms wishing to interconnect their services.
--AFP

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