MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo on Monday refuted reports of irregularities in his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN), calling them "malicious" and a waste of his time.
Arroyo asserted that he and his family could afford to buy properties in the United States, such as the one the Vera Files reported on.
"If you examine clearly my SAL, if you read it well, you can see we can well afford to buy properties," he told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview.
"I have always been transparent with my SALN ever since I entered public office. I have declared everything I own there. It is self explanatory," he said in a statement.
Coming to his defense, Speaker Prospero Nograles echoed Arroyo's statement and criticized the report as "nitpicking" against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's eldest son.
Part 1 of 2
"A perusal of the statement of assets and liabilities of Representative Mikey Arroyo sufficiently shows that he and his family can afford the value of the properties subject to this issue," Nograles said in a text message.
"Personally, I find this issue nitpicking in the sense that the congressman can well afford the assets attributed to him," Nograles said, adding that the SALN can be "legally amended without liability if and when any oversight that is not substantial is discovered or corrected."
Part 2 of 2
REP. MIKEY ARROYO ON MEDIA SUICIDE WITH IGAN AND WINNIE MONSOD - HOW DO YOU EARN MILLIONS AS CONGRESSMAN? QUOTE FROM MIKEY ARROYO "HINDI PA TAYO SANAY MAG-DECLARE NOON, DI BA? SYEMPRE! Read more..click..click http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breaking... We can afford to buy properties By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez INQUIRER.net
With the 2010 elections just around the corner, all sorts of publicity stunts are bombarding the airwaves, cyberspace and cellsites. Don’t you just wish you could shoot these questions to the perpetrators behind 10 of the most cringe-inducing political gimmicks today?
1. Bayani Fernando
Strategy: Allegedly sends text messages to random people
“May BF ka na ba?” goes the campaign text which may or may not have come from MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando (otherwise known as the man who turned Manila’s streets pink) himself. Fernando said he wants to run for president in 2010 and even wished on his last birthday in July that his next birthday be in Malacañang. The campaign text ends with, “Sa political will, titino tayo.”
The question: Are you planning to color the whole country pink?
2. Ed Panlilio
Strategy: Says God told him to do it
Priest-turned-Pampanga-Gov. Ed Panlilio says he’s running for president because God has called him to do so. Panlilio is currently on leave from the priesthood as governor of Pampanga. However, he will have to file for formal dispensation from the Catholic Church before he can file for presidential candidacy. He has said that he’d like to return to the priesthood if he loses, but Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz says Panlilio can never return once dispensed.
The question: You do know it’s not nice to use God’s name in vain, right?
3. Gilbert Teodoro
Strategy: Ride the Obama wave
Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro wants to do an Obama, reports inquirer.net. He launched Gibo.ph to use cyberspace for his campaign for presidency. We’re not sure what exactly he means by “do and Obama,” but we know being allied with the administration and asking for Gloria’s blessing can’t be good.
The question: But who are you and what have you done to deserve being elected?
4. Mar Roxas
Strategy: Hijack a pedicab
“Anak itabi mo. Ako na,” Sen. Mar Roxas tells a child pedicab driver in a commercial meant to make him look like one of the masses. Roxas has also starred in a messianic commercial filled with overacting and underacting “real” people supposedly showing how he listens to the public. His most memorable TV appearance entailed shedding actual tears after proposing to broadcaster Korina Sanchez during one of the most shoot-me-now TV shows.
The question: Will you cry in your next TV commercial?
5. Manny Villar
Strategy: Hire Boy Abunda to do a fake interview
The first of a five-part interview
In 2007, it was a ridiculous dance. This year, Sen. Manny Villar came out with a dramatic 15-minute interview complete with faraway looks by the window and poor man’s tales. Boy Abunda, who thankfully didn’t bring out his magic mirror, asked, “Umiiyak po ba kayo?” Manny said, “Hindi ako yung umiiyak sa telebisyon.”
6. Ramon “Bong” Revilla
Strategy: Milk a sex scandal for all its worth
Fanning the Hayden Kho flame even more, Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla gave a privilege speech on “A Doctor’s Perversity” which led to a senate investigation on the sex videos. He also accompanied Katrina Halili, one of the stars of Kho’s sex videos, when she filed a complaint against Kho at the National Bureau of Investigation. Revilla says he isn’t going to run for president but we all know a certain someone who said the same thing and look how that went.
The question: Don’t you have more important issues to spend the Senate’s time (and money) on?
7. Gloria Arroyo
Strategy: Bash enemies at a state function
“To those who want to be President, this advice: If you really want something done, just do it. Do it hard, do it well. Don’t pussyfoot. Don’t pander. And don’t say bad words in public,” Pres. Gloria Arroyo said in her 2009 State of the Nation Address. It’s a dig at Sen. Roxas, who said p***** i** at a rally against Charter Change, which Arroyo campaigned for. It is unclear whether or not Gloria Arroyo will run for representative for Pampanga’s second district after she will supposedly step down from the presidency in 2010.
The question: Was that last line a dig at another presidentiable?
8. Loren Legarda
Strategy: Bring sexy back at an official state event
Loren Legarda hasn’t said anything definite about running in 2010 but she’s already dressed up for the cameras, er, red carpet. She made heads turn with the plunging, almost-backless and almost-baring-that-other-cleavage fuchsia terno she wore at the last State of the Nation Address.
The question: Have you heard of the style rule, “dress for the occasion”?
9. Joseph “Erap” Estrada
Strategy: Literally run in a TV commercial
“Erap, makakatakbo ka pa ba?” asks a jogger in Former President Erap Estrada’s commercial for a brand of herbal anti-arthritis medicine (we kid you not). Erap turns to the side and gives a creepy smile probably supposed to come off as charming. “Bakit hindi?” he answers. Maybe because as former president, he can’t run for reelection? His candidacy might boil down to the Supreme Court decision but it’s interesting to note that he’s the only presidential hopeful that was paid, instead of being the one paying, to star in a commercial.
The question: Do you really think it will be good for the country to have you as president again?
10. Francis “Chiz” Escudero
Strategy: Post supposedly candid family photos in his Facebook page
In this photo from Sen. Chiz Escudero’s Facebook profile, Chiz is oh-so-happily tossing a salad while his wife flashes a huge grin bordering on scary. While in this photo, Chiz’s son Quino looks straight at the camera, ruining the supposed candidness of the photo.
The question: Is a photo of bath time with the kids next?
Good Morning. Getting hotter and hotter here in Manila, ok lang sanay na eh. :) I need to share this video to you guys, it was sent by Bodie Cruz on twitter. SO here is the video:
To my fellow pinoys, guys please, I'm begging on May 2010 Election, please vote wisely, participate in any programme that will open the mind of many Filipinos of what exactly happening in this lovely country. To those who are not yet registered pls make an effort to go to your nearest comelec branch and register. I love Phili Land, we love this country. So, please make the right desicion, ask God for wisdom.
To the Dragons, snake, leopard etc in the government please this time Love our country. Corruption etc, stop it.
To Erap, pls. I'm begging wag ka nang tumakbo, pls.
*WOTL or Word of the Lourd (WOTL) is a segment in TV5's TEN: The Evening News. Show airs from Monday to Friday at 11pm...WOTL is aired during the Monday newscast. :)
I've been blogging for 1-1.5 years. I don't own a domain, but I have my own web address. I use Blogger, to update a blogspot or other hosted site with built-in updating and content management. I have quite a few links, and I try to check in on them all regularly, or at least periodically. I post at least once a day. I can't remember the last day I haven't blogged. I sometimes carry a laptop with me, or I'll find an internet cafe, and I blog soon after I get a bloggable idea.I have posted at least a photo of my face on my blog, but not much more.Nearly all of my offline friends, family members, and co-workers know about my blog, and that's fine.
