23 lawmakers join Arroyo in US trip

At least 21 congressmen and two senators accompanied President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in her US trip to meet with President Barack Obama. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Manuel “Lito" Lapid “were brought with the President." Santiago chairs the Senate committee on foreign relations committee while Lapid leads the committee on games, amusement and sports. Asked on what would be Lapid’s role in the trip, Enrile said: “I don’t know." “There must be a reason why he was brought along. I am not privy to it," the Senate leader said. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said the expenses in official trips are usually charged against the senator’s travel allowance or personal money. “You have to utilize it for particular trips. Hindi nanggagaling sa coffers ng Senado ‘yan (The expenses do not come from the Senate’s coffers). I’m sure they’ll be spending their own money for this travels," he said. Congressmen At the House of Representatives, a copy of the "1st endorsement" listed 20 congressmen as among the members of President Arroyo's official entourage for her week-long US visit. The document, obtained by reporters on Wednesday, was signed by House Secretary General Marilyn Barua-Yap. The document said the congressmen are entitled to travel tax exemption and "will be accompanied by their respective spouses who will be traveling at their own expense." These congressmen were: 1. Marikina Rep. Del de Guzman; 2. Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales, Jr.; 3. Pampanga Rep. Anna York Bondoc; 4. Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, Jr.; 5. Manila Rep. Ma. Zenaida Angping; 6. Cebu Rep. Ramon Durano, VI; 7. Cebu Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz; 8. Camarines Sur Felix Alfelor; 9. Quezon City Rep. Mary Ann Susano; 10. Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella; 11. Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas; 12. Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa; 13. Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romuladez; 14. Palawan Rep. Antonio Alvarez; 15. Abra Rep. Cecilia Seares-Luna; 16. Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez; 17. Malabon Rep. Alvin Sandoval; 18. Pangasinan Rep. Rachel Arenas; 19. Bohol Rep. Edgar Chatto; 20. Quezon City (1st District) Rep. Vincent Crisologo; While he is not on the list, Speaker Prospero Nograles was also among the President's entourage. "Jetset kibitzers" The United Opposition (UNO), meanwhile, expressed its regret over the evident lack of propriety of the 20 congressmen who joined President Arroyo in her US visit. “We can only wonder what agenda the 20 congressmen would talk about in the United States that they cannot talk about in the country. It seems that the House of Representatives are mere jetset kibitzers who would want to junket at the Filipino people's expense," said San Juan City Mayor JV Ejercito, who is UNO's chairperson in the National Capital Region. Ejercito said President Arroyo's entourage was "impractical" considering the country's dire economic situation. Even in the US, official trips by lawmakers are on the downtrend due to the economic slowdown. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said President Arroyo will have a meeting with Obama on July 30. She will be the first Southeast Asian president to talk and be invited by Obama at the White House. President Arroyo is scheduled to return to the country on August 5. - GMANews.TV