Mike Arroyo as a Private Citizen

Though First Gentleman Mike Arroyo is considered still a private citizen, you would always spot him making the headline of every newspaper, may it be local or abroad.

He is always hounded of a variety of issues. Just recently, his battle between the class suits lodged by about 60 journalists continues, as he filed a counterclaim to dismiss the case.

Atty. Rondain, lawyer of Mike, said the complainants failed to pay the right amount of docket fees that is estimated to be over P9 million against the P500 million collective amounts of damages the journalists asked. However, I find it strange as I go over to find the filed case article this appears:

“About 40 journalists, press groups and news groups have filed a class action suit against Philippine President Gloria Arroyo's husband, claiming his libel suits against them violated press freedom. The class action, filed in suburban Makati city, accused Arroyo's husband, lawyer Jose Miguel Arroyo, of "abuse of pride and violation of freedom of the press" and demanded 12.5 million pesos (254,200 dollars) in damages.”

---Asia.news.yahoo.com

It is clearly stated that the group of journalists is only demanding for 12.5 million pesos damages and not merely asking for 500 million pesos, as said by Atty. Rondain. The figures are far related from each other, is he as phony as his client?

Another was that of Sen. Lacson accusing him for stashing over P270 million in laundered funds and peddled the ever-controversial Jose Pidal account.

I’ve also read several newspaper quoting a former secretary of the president as claiming Mike Arroyo accepted bribes to work towards rescinding a presidential veto on a local telecommunications firm.

Perhaps its true that the first gentleman had the wary of the Imelda Syndrome, making marks in every presidential spouse as the prime suspect for abuse and wrongdoing in the tradition started by Imelda Marcos, regardless of whether or not there is basis, as affirmed by William Esposo of Inquirer.

He is constantly meddling in government matters. Maybe he needs to be reminded that he is not privileged to use the president power, though he is the spouse, moreover to abuse it. Hence, the president is not bestowed to abuse the power we entailed to her.