Opposition senators to scrutinize Arroyo foreign trips

MANILA, Philippines - Opposition senators will look into the expenditures of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in her foreign trips when session resumes next month. Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said this is to find out if the trips are justified in terms of benefits for the country. “Yung opposition maghahanap ng ebidensya kung saan nagugugol ang napakalaking budget for foreign trips ng presidente [The opposition wants to know how the budget is spent during these foreign travels]," he said. Lacson noted that the Office of the President spent roughly P800 million for President Arroyo’s foreign travels last year. “We should really scrutinize the budget of the Office of the President particularly those pertaining to foreign trips vis-à-vis the benefits derived out of [these] foreign trips," he said. President Arroyo is currently in Brazil after a four-day working visit in Japan where she witnessed the signing of $500 million in Japanese aid to the Philippines. In a radio interview earlier in the day, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde hinted that the President still has “two to three" more foreign trips before her term ends in June next year. “Mga ganoon pa siguro nakikita ko sa ngayon [I think that’s the case]," Remonde told radio dzXL when asked if President Arroyo would make two to three more foreign travels. Remonde also defended the trips, saying they have been productive and beneficial to Filipino workers in coping with the present economic crisis. Senator Francis Escudero, for his part, said the justification should be made when the deliberations for next year’s budget start late this year. “Are these foreign trips necessary at this time? Money spent in these travels can be spent for more important needs," he said. But Remonde said the expenses of President Arroyo’s foreign trips can be audited as they are covered by “public documents." “Lahat na gusto kong mabusisi sa paggastos ng biyahe ng pangulo… yan ay bukas dahil public document yan. Ino-audit yan ng COA [All who want to audit the trips are free to do so. The Commission on Audit is auditing the expenses in the trips]," he said. Besides, he said the Palace’s expenses are limited to the President and her official delegation, which includes “relevant Cabinet officials." He did not elaborate. - GMANews.TV