PNoy ‘covering up’ country’s woes with Arroyo issue – opposition

The Aquino administration is running after former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to “cover up” other problems being experienced by the country, members of the minority bloc at the House of Representatives said Wednesday.   Deputy Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said the administration is “quite successful” in “removing the public’s attention” on the country’s economic woes by publicizing Mrs. Arroyo’s case.   “Let’s not miss the bigger picture of the problems in our country because of the much-publicized issue on this…. Ano pa ba ang puwede mong gawin para mawala ang atensyon? I-cover up mo,” he said at a press briefing.   He specifically cited the high price of commodities, high power cost, increasing safe-rated poverty and unemployment in the country as some of the problems that the Aquino administration is supposedly trying to cover up.   Mrs. Arroyo, incumbent representative of the second district of Pampanga, is currently under police custody at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) filed an electoral sabotage case against her last Friday.   President Benigno Aquino III earlier vowed to be even more aggressive in prosecuting Mrs. Arroyo, who is also currently facing plunder and other civil charges.   Obsessed with Arroyo   Deputy Minority Leader Milagros Magsaysay, meanwhile, criticized the Aquino administration for being “obsessed” with Mrs. Arroyo.   “Accountability is good, but that is not your ultimate mandate… They are so obsessed with former President Arroyo that they have forgotten to govern in other aspects,” she said at the same briefing.   She added that Aquino should also show the same enthusiasm he is exhibiting in fighting corruption in solving the country’s other problems such as poverty and unemployment.   “Sana the same zeal he [Aquino] has in going after former President Arroyo is the same zeal he has in trying to address other problems that are pressing this country,” Magsaysay said. - Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News