Ombudsman urged to probe controversial NY dinner

Amid finger-pointing among some government officials, a lawmaker on Wednesday asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate the controversial $20,000-dinner President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her entourage had in a posh New York restaurant last week. In his two-page letter of complaint, Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello said Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez must look into the issue as public officials embroiled in the controversy may be held liable for violating several laws, including Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, the Revised Penal Code, and Presidential Decree 46 which makes it punishable for public officials and employees to receive gifts on any occasion. Bello said the "astounding" cost of the dinner "raises a clear possibility" that Section 4h of RA 6713, which states that “public officials shall lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income" and that “they shall not engage in extravagant or ostentatious displays of wealth," was violated. "In no way can such a level of expenditure be characterized as 'modest'," he said. In Malacañang, Executive Secretary Ermita maintained that there was nothing wrong with the dinner. "We are confident there is nothing wrong that has been done and the position taken has been expressed and therefore it’s for anybody to pursue what they want to pursue and let the subject matter laid to rest," Ermita told a news briefing, adding that the Ombudsman has its own mandate.

But Bello maintained that even if the dinner was not paid for with public funds as claimed by Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who said Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez footed the bill — the incident can still fall under PD 46 and Article 211 of the Revised Penal Code for indirect bribery. Both laws penalize public officers who receive gifts that are given by reason of their official position, as well as the persons who give such gifts. PD 46 specifically prohibits the throwing of parties or entertainments in honor of the official or of her immediate relatives, Bello pointed out. "At any rate, the concerned officials should be made to explain why such an extravagant expense was incurred in the first place, who the public officials present were, and where the funds used came from," the Akbayan representative said. The New York Post's Page Six section reported the controversial dinner on August 7, saying, "The economic downturn hasn’t persuaded everyone to pinch pennies. Philippines President Maria (sic) Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was at Le Cirque the other night with a large entourage enjoying the good life. ..." [See: Arroyo dined lavishly in US before attending Cory's wake] While Remonde said Romualdez footed the bill, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, one of those who attended the dinner that was supposedly in celebration of the President's 41st wedding anniversary, said it was unclear whether Romualdez or Romualdez's brother Daniel — a well-established architect in New York — paid for it. Romualdez himself has kept mum on the issue, and did not approach reporters waiting for him at the sidelines of the plenary Tuesday. His spokesman, Jun Pisco, however, had confirmed Remonde's statements regarding the controversial dinner. Romualdez's latest statement of assets and liabilities, dated Dec. 31, 2008, showed that he could very well afford the reportedly $20,000 dinner. With assets worth P477.2 million, he is the second richest lawmaker in the House of Representatives, next only to Sen. Manuel Villar Jr.'s wife, Las Pinas Rep. Cynthia Villar, who declared P1.046 billion in assets. [See: Cynthia Villar remains richest solon; Mariano poorest] A banker and a lawyer, the 45-year-old Romualdez has held various positions in several corporations. In July 2005 to February 2006, he even served as chairman of the board of the Equitable PCI bank, according to his official website. He is the son of former Leyte governor Benjamin "Kokoy" Romualdez, younger brother of former First Lady Imelda Marcos. - GMANews.TV