Palace mum on Mikey's alleged non-declaration of campaign donations

Presidential son and Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey" Arroyo is old enough to defend himself against allegations that he failed to declare campaign contributions he received in the two previous elections, Malacañang said Monday. “Alam mo matanda na si Mikey (You know, Mikey is old enough). We trust he is capable of defending and explaining himself. I don’t think the Palace should comment further about that," deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said in a press briefing. Fajardo was pertaining to a Vera Files report saying the presidential son failed to declare to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) the campaign contributions he received when he ran for Congress in 2004 and 2007. Mikey had earlier claimed in an interview over GMA’s Unang Hirit that wedding gifts and campaign donations contributed to the sharp increase in his wealth since he garnered a House seat. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's eldest son declared net worth increased from P5.7 million in 2001 to P74.4 million in 2004, and then to P99.2 million in 2007, according to the Vera Files report. Fajardo said this was not the first time that Mikey or other members of the First Family were subjected to criticisms. “Marami na ring napagdaanang isyu si Presidente, sa family niya, sa kanya as a person. Si presidente naman will always just remain focus on doing her job (The President has gone through so many issues concerning herself and her family. She will always remain focused on doing her job)," Fajardo said. Mikey, however, declined to answer allegations contained in the latest Vera Files report. "My lawyer arrived already, siya na lang pakiusapin natin (just talk to him)," he told GMANews.TV over the phone. Mikey said during the Unang Hirit interview that his lawyer, a certain Atty. De Guzman who he said was abroad at the time, would answer all questions pertaining to his Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). But when asked by GMANews.TV Monday via text message who his lawyer is, the presidential son did not respond. Last week, Vera Files said Mikey failed to declare in his 2007 and 2008 SALNs a $1.32 million (P63.7 million) beachfront property in the San Francisco Bay Area in California, which he allegedly bought and then transferred to his wife Angela in 2006. Mikey has denied the allegation, saying the house was not owned by his wife but by a company called Beach Way Park LLC, of which he is a shareholder. He said his involvement with the company is declared in his SALN. - GMANews.TV