New York Post says Arroyo dinner fires up memories of Imelda

A New York tabloid that broke a story on a $20,000 (P960,000) dinner by President Arroyo and her entourage last week updated New Yorkers Tuesday on the “firestorm" caused by its “little scoop." “Our little scoop about the $20,000 dinner Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo enjoyed last month at Le Cirque has blown up into a political firestorm in her homeland, where memories of Imelda Marcos’ shoe collection are still fresh," it said in its “Page Six" section, the same section that ran the story on the $20,000 dinner. It also cited Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay’s statement, which said the cost of the dinner for 25 could have fed “almost 3,000 hungry families with three square meals." Also, the article said a copy of Mrs. Arroyo’s tab, posted on several blogs, showed 11 bottles of Krug champagne were ordered at $510 a pop. “The entourage - who were charged $238 a head for the feast - also devoured Osetra caviar at $1,400 for five ounces," the paper said. It cited an “Arroyo spokesman" - Press Secretary Cerge Remonde - as saying Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, part of the delegation, footed the bill. However, a Manila radio station reported Romualdez denied Malacañang’s claim he footed the bill for the supposed $20,000 dinner for Mrs. Arroyo and her entourage in New York. According to radio station dzRH, it said it was the lawmaker’s brother Daniel, a prominent architect-designer in New York, who spent for the dinner. Martin Romualdez himself refused to talk to reporters when he arrived at the House of Representatives at 5 p.m., the report added. The New York Post report drew a barrage of reactions from the Palace’s critics, who denounced the show of extravagance while the nation was mourning the death of former President Corazon Aquino. Mrs. Arroyo herself had ordered a 10-day period of mourning for Mrs. Aquino. - GMANews.TV