Lawyer: Senate probe may be too stressful for Mike Arroyo

MANILA, Philippines - The camp of Jose Miguel Arroyo on Monday appeared hesitant to officially answer allegations of his alleged involvement in bribery and collusion marring World Bank-funded road projects in the Philippines. In a radio interview, the First Gentleman's lawyer Ruy Rondain said he will have to clear with Mr. Arroyo's doctors if he would be permitted to give a deposition on the matter or appear at the Senate this Thursday, saying both cases may be stressful for Mr. Arroyo. "Ang deposition meron ding cross-examination. Pareho sa akin, may cross examination so may stress din. Ang nag-iiba lang ang venue (To me, giving a deposition is as stressful as appearing before the Senate because it will involve cross-examination. To me, a Senate appearance is almost the same as a deposition, the only difference being the venue)," Rondain said in an interview on dzXL radio. On Sunday, Senate economic affairs committee chairwoman Miriam Defensor Santiago said she may ask for a deposition from the First Gentleman if his health bars him from attending the hearing. Santiago scheduled the next hearing on the mess on Thursday, February 12. The First Gentleman had been allegedly mentioned in excerpts of the World Bank report, where contractors linked him and a former senator to bribes in exchange for contracts. However, Rondain maintained these all remain without evidence. Earlier, Rondain said he sees no problem with giving a statement before the Senate on the alleged bribery and collusion that marred World Bank-financed projects. But he said they will come up with a decision later in the day, after conferring with the First Gentleman's doctors. "I suppose wala naman magiging problema, magkikita kami mamaya at dedesisyunan yan mamaya ng mga doctor (I suppose there will be no problem with that. But we'll decide on it later today when we meet with his doctors)," he said. - GMANews.TV