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Arroyo's husband told to open up

A Philippine government inquiry yesterday gave President Gloria Arroyo's husband 21 days to explain his alleged part in a corruption scandal that is heaping pressure on his wife to resign.

Jose Miguel Arroyo sat stone-faced as he faced allegations that he used his influence to help Chinese state firm ZTE Corp win a US$329 million national Internet broadband deal.

Speaking to journalists after the public hearing, Jose Miguel Arroyo, a lawyer, brushed aside the accusations saying: "They are fabricated. They are all hearsay."

The president's husband was given until March 25 to formally answer the allegations, which will form part of the special prosecutor's decision on whether or not to file criminal charges.

An Arroyo political ally, former election commission chairman Benjamin Abalos, was accused of seeking US$130 million in kickbacks for himself and the president's husband on the ZTE deal.

President Arroyo canceled the contract after the scandal broke.

The scandal has hurt Arroyo's standing, with opposition groups mounting growing street protests calling for her to quit.

In a speech before government employees yesterday, President Arroyo criticized the opposition for using the ZTE issue to advance their political ambitions.

"The law of the land is above politics and popularity," she said, adding "that is why we uphold the principle of due process in investigating and adjudicating criminal allegations against any citizen whatever the political cost."
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